Tips on Starting or Getting Back on that Grind

I know!!! Starting or getting back to the gym grind is HARD. I believe you always need motivation to do something, but this just takes EXTRA motivation. I've had sooo many days (even weeks) of just not feeling it. One time in my first year of college, I was in the gym just doing my thing until I realized that I wasn't enjoying it the way I used to. I felt like a robot repeating the workouts and not enjoying the feeling. The gym is a place where I can let go of any problems and stress for a few hours, but I was noticing that I was bringing those problems in while I lifted or ran. I decided to take a break for two weeks to focus on my school and reflect on my connection with the gym. I asked myself these questions:

• Why do I work out? What's MY purpose?

• What are my goals from working out?

• How will I get through that struggle or pain that you experience during or after the workout?

• How can I start again?

When you are just starting your fitness journey or you took a break and you are trying to get back at it, I suggest to reflect. You should ask yourself those questions along with following these tips on getting that grind on.

Tips

• Ask yourself why you want to start going to the gym. What are you trying to achieve by going to the gym (or starting a physical activity in general)? There's a driving force that will put you out the door and on the way to the gym, so explore and discover that force. That will be your main source of motivation. Whenever you feel like you're lacking that motivation, refer back to your goals. It's helped me through the tough and lazy days.

• Find sources of inspiration. Real ones, though. I wrote a blog post about using social media as a tool to reaching your goals (you can read it here) and I mentioned inspirations and influencers. I wrote in my reflection that I need to be inspired. Once I got that spark of inspiration, I felt moved to start the grind again. Your inspirations will remind you of your goals, your purpose.

• Change your toxic mentality of working out. Yes, we have goals to reach but I want you to remember that fitness is a lifestyle. Being healthy is a lifestyle. The statements of "I should go to the gym..." or "I have to go the gym or else I'm going to gain my weight back..." are signs of toxic mentality of working out. This is something I am currently working on as I have said this multiple times to myself. I gotta admit, though, that by saying these statements AT FIRST I was able to push myself to go to the gym and it led to a routine. Now, I have changed that mentality to "I WANT to go to the gym to reach my goals" or "I enjoy that workout so I'm going to do it again tomorrow." I suggest that in the beginning of your journey, push yourself to work out even when you don't want to. There's a "good" decision and a "bad" decision: the good decision would be working out and the bad decision would be being a couch potato. I mean, yeah, being a couch potato sounds nice but working out to meet your fitness goals is nicER. Also, part of toxic mentality is doing exercises you don't even enjoy. You do it because it is known to get results. Change that into doing exercises you actually enjoy. There are SOO many kinds of cardio (I know everyone hates cardio, even me) that you can do and find some that you enjoy doing. I like running, dancing, and jumping rope as my forms of cardio. Anything that makes you sweat and work your muscles will get you results. Part of starting your fitness journey is trial-and-error; explore the many types of exercises and workouts and reflect on what you enjoyed and would do again.

• Build that routine from the beginning. By pushing yourself to get that grind on, you are building that routine for yourself. Also, be flexible because we all know life happens and it can disrupt our routine. When life does happen, find ways you can insert a workout in. College can be so unexpected sometimes so I had to make modifications to my workouts and time at the gym, but I always did something active. This showed me that I can overcome challenges and work around them which set a good mind set and ultimately lead me to getting closer to my goals.

• Don't even think about it, just put on your favorite gym outfit and go to the gym. Overthinking is a bad habit of mine and it can hold me back from doing something I want to do. However, if I just don't think about it and have that "I don't give a crap, imma just do it" attitude, then I can get things done. I am able to get through that grind. If you're contemplating whether or not you're going to the gym or working out in general, don't even think about it and just do it. Obviously, it's easier said than done, BUT if you just force yourself once then it can get easier. As time goes by and you're getting used to your routine you notice that you're not overthinking it. You're just doing it subconsciously. We gotta love Nike's slogan: Just Do It.

These tips have helped me get through every struggle I've experienced so far, even through this pandemic. If you have other tips that has helped you personally, feel free to comment and share them! If you are starting on that gym grind, I hope these tips will help you. If there's one tip I think you should absolutely do, that is to reflect.

It's #grindtimebabyy !!