Tips For Developing A Strong Fitness Mindset
If you have made the decision to improve your fitness, congratulations: you are investing in better mental and physical health that will help you to enjoy life to the full. As you embark on your fitness journey, you will soon discover that your mindset is just as important as your physical effort. Here are some tips to help you build a strong fitness mindset.
Find what you enjoy
It’s important that your exercise is more than a chore: if you have to psych yourself up and force yourself to workout, then chances are it’s going to fall by the wayside sooner or later. Try different things if the gym is not for you: working with an online personal trainer and training from home might be the answer.
It’s also important to vary your routine to avoid boredom and also to ensure that different muscle groups are being used.
Shift from ‘all or nothing’ to ‘better than nothing’
It is common to approach goals with an ‘all or nothing’ mindset, especially if you have perfectionist tendencies. However, there are always going to be weeks or even months when life is unpredictable and your exercise routine takes a hit. This can make you feel like a failure, and even cause you to abandon your fitness goals altogether.
Instead of taking an ‘all or nothing’ approach, shift your mindset to ‘something is better than nothing’. For example, if you didn’t make it to the gym, go for a brisk ten minute walk in your lunch break. This will still make a difference to your fitness levels and helps to maintain your consistency, both physically and mentally.
Accept fitness as part of your self-care routine
We all accept that we need to care for ourselves by getting enough sleep, washing, and eating. Keeping fit is no different: it’s an act of self-care that will protect your health and make it easier for you to sleep well, focus on your job, and reduce the risk of disease.
You are not being self-indulgent and you should never feel guilty about the time that you spend on your fitness routine, no matter what other demands you may have on your time.
Build a social support network
If you are tackling your fitness journey alone, you will have less support to fall back on when those inevitable blue Mondays occur and you just want to curl up on the sofa and comfort eat.
If possible, share your fitness goals with family and friends, or reach out to an online community where you can find a workout buddy, or just share your successes and setbacks.
This will help you to stay motivated and accountable to your goals.
Celebrate what you have achieved
Finally, take the time to congratulate yourself on your achievements so far and recognise how far you have come. This will help to consolidate your mindset and motivate you to progress even further.