In a perfect world, we would have all the energy to exercise daily. Unfortunately, life often gets in the way, whether it’s a busy work schedule, a packed social calendar or a bad case of the flu. Sometimes we really need to give our body a break, but other times we need to just push through our tiredness and actually make our way to the gym.
Frequent exercise can actually give you more energy over time, so despite how tempting it is to lay on the couch instead of going to Pilates class, it can actually hurt your energy levels in the long run. Keeping a consistent exercise routine is important, and unless we are running on two hours of sleep and can barely even make it out the front door, it’s important to keep up on our workouts.
If you’re feeling exhausted or unmotivated to stick to your workout routine, try these six tips to kick your sluggish feelings to the curb:
1. Go With A Friend
If going to the gym sounds too painful to do alone, try getting a friend to go with you as motivation. Not only will you have someone to socialize with, which can help keep you upbeat, but research shows that people have double the pain tolerance when exercising with a buddy.
2. Go After Work
If you’re feeling tired, going home may only lead to you heading straight for the couch, only to never get up again. Skip the downtime and go straight from work to minimize any chances of lounging around. Bring your workout clothes to the office, and schedule it in your calendar so you mentally note it as something you can’t miss.
3. Don’t Be Afraid Of Caffeine
A little coffee never hurt nobody. In fact, coffee will not only wake you up mentally, but it can increase your endurance during exercise. Better yet, it even decreases feelings of exhaustion and pain, making it a great choice to sip on before heading to the gym.
4. Give Yourself Rest Days
Working too hard will leave you constantly exhausted, so don’t be afraid to allow yourself rest days once or twice a week. Taking a day off can help your muscles recover and grow, can help you sleep better, and help you avoid burnout.
5. Take A Walk
If the gym is out of the question, take a brief, brisk walk instead. It takes much less effort than getting to the gym, but it can still have profound effects. Walking just 20 minutes a day can improve your energy levels and fight fatigue, can reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and even help with weight loss.
6. Stay Nourished
Keeping a proper diet can help maintain your energy levels and make it more likely that you’ll stick to your exercise routine. Make sure you’re eating enough protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, and eat consistently throughout the day as to not allow your blood sugar levels to drop.
