MOTIVATION STATIONS

Stuck in an exercise-related slump? Here's your guide to boosting fading fitness mojo

- Charlie Allenby

Motivation is a funny old thing. The driving force behind any behaviour or action you do, it can push people to get up at unsociable hours to train, lift beyond their assumed limits, and in elite cases dedicate their whole lives to fitness. But when it’s not working in your favour, it can make working out feel the hardest thing in the world.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get things moving in the right direction again – whether it’s been a while since you trained or you’ve simply hit a bit of a rut in your progress. From science-backed strategies to coach-approved techniques, here are 19 different ways to rediscover your fitness mojo.

01. Find your ‘why’ “I get my clients to write down five reasons why they want to do exercise on a small postcard and have that pinned up in the kitchen over the chopping board,” says sport and exercise mindset coach and psychologist Matt Cunliffe.

“It doesn’t really matter what your five reasons are – they could be getting shredded or feeling more confident, but if you don’t have those reasons, you’re going to lose motivation quite quickly.”

02. Break it down “Once you’ve set yourself a long-term goal, break it down into smaller, bite-sized pieces,” explains personal trainer Ty Paul. “Psychologically, it will help because you’re constantly achieving those small steps, which will cumulatively help you achieve your long-term goal.