Staying motivated to exercise can be quite difficult, especially in these times when it is a little frightening to leave our homes. Creating a fitness routine can be the baseline to staying motivated to stay active. Here are a few tips to keeping your workout motivation. This blog will discuss 5 motivational strategies to continue to exercise at your pace!

1. Rotate workouts
   a. One of the main ways to stay motivated to workout is change up what you do instead of doing the same workout every day. Changing up types of cardio or weightlifting techniques by week or day allows you to stay motivated and work different muscles in your body.
2. Get up early
   a. It always seems that people who start their day by working out have a more successful fitness program. If you are having difficulty sticking to a workout schedule, try going in the morning to see if it helps! Completing your workout at the start of the day allows you to not dread it throughout the day or to come up with an excuse to not go.
3. Exercise outside of the gym
   a. Changing up where you work out can change your motivation like running outside or taking a bike ride. Even if you decide to do an at home workout the change of scenery may just be the motivational boost that you need!
4. Make your workout a social gathering
   a. Going to the gym or a fitness class with friends can hold you accountable for your fitness program. Even if you do not have friends to join you at the gym join an intermural sport or take fitness classes regularly to find people to join you on your fitness journey. Here is the link to UW-Whitewater’s Intermural registration or fitness class sign up.

5. Give yourself a break
   a. You may feel overworked and no longer motivated to go to the gym, so taking a break may be exactly what you need to bring your drive back. Doing lighter exercise like walking or a light yoga session will help you relax both your body and mind. Make sure you pick a date to start back into your routine, however long you feel it is needed. Remember: this is your fitness plan and yours only!

Strive for progress not perfection!

Kayla Withrow