Motivation is B*llshit

With the new year comes a newfound desire to change the things you didn’t change in prior years. One of the big areas many people focus is on their fitness goals. They make a list, set workout goals, and begin the new year on a healthier foot. Here’s the problem with that. Sometimes they lose motivation because motivation is b*llshit and they quit. So what do you do when motivation leaves you and the goals are still there? We have some tips for you.

Motivation is b*llshit

The dictionary defines motivation as, “the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.” When making goals it’s easy to have the overall desire and even willingness to workout more frequently or modify your eating. However, when you get to that first early morning when it’s time for a workout, the desire and willingness can quickly disappear. This can lead to that moment of deciding whether you really want to go to the gym or whether going back to bed would be the better option.

Replace Motivation with Perseverance

While the feeling of motivation is fleeing, the choice for perseverance isn’t. Perseverance is saying that even if there is no desire to do something, you will press on. The truth of the matter is, you won’t always WANT to work out or eat better. In fact, there will be days when you will want nothing more than to stay in bed. Perseverance is the choice you make to get up anyway. It’s looking at the lack of motivation in the face and deciding that your goals still matter to you.

Replace Motivation with Accountability

It’s really easy to give up on your fitness goals when you are doing them alone. On the flip side, it’s a lot harder to quit on yourself when you are accountable to someone. Find a friend who won’t cosign your excuses. Having someone who is working alongside you and pushing you on your harder days can make all of the difference. Partner with one or more accountability partners who can either work out with you or remind you of your why when motivation leaves you.

5 Tips for Choosing an Accountability Partner

So how do you pick an accountability partner? Here are a few simple things to keep in mind.

Pick someone who shares your goals. When you are working towards the same goals it is easier to push one another to succeed.
Pick someone who isn’t afraid to call you out. Sometimes our excuses for not doing what we need to do are really silly. Pick someone who isn’t afraid to call you on those excuses and push you to keep working.
Pick someone you respect. If someone is going to push you past your lack of motivation it may mean they get on your nerves a bit. Pick someone you can respect and you will get less irritated with them.
Pick someone who is driven. Are you the type to give up on your fitness goals? Make sure your accountability partner is not the same way. You need someone willing to push you when you want to quit.
Pick someone who can work out with you. Sometimes the best accountability is a shared workout schedule. There is something about knowing that someone else is depending on you to get you off the couch and into the gym.

Replace Motivation with Plans

Most of the time when people fail at reaching their fitness goals it is because they failed to plan. Take some time to build yourself a workout schedule that is realistic for your day to day life. Set up your Monday Strategy. This could mean that you build out a setlist for the gym or decide which days go with which workouts. It’s a great deal easier to stick to goals when the plan is already set in place. Motivation becomes a non-issue when you know you have already booked a class, agreed to workout with a friend, or committed to leg day.

Replace Motivation with Your Why

Why are you doing this in the first place? Take motivation out of the equation for a minute and focus on the why behind your fitness goals. Are you trying to lose weight, build muscle, or improve your health? Why are you doing these things? Don’t just define your why though. Find a tangible way to remind yourself of your why. Having that tangible reminder may be just the push you need to keep working towards your fitness goals.

Sometimes motivation really is b*llshit but your motivation is not the boss of you. By replacing motivation with some of the above items you are deciding that motivation doesn’t control your goals or your success. You can do this and you may just need a new approach to it. Say goodbye to motivation you may not have today. Instead, replace it with perseverance, accountability, plans, and your why and you may see greater success!