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Ways to help you stay motivated and avoid distractions while working out at home during the lockdown in order to achieve your personal fitness goals.
With COVID-19 cases in the Philippines still rising by three-figure numbers daily, the government has decided to continue enforcing a nationwide lockdown. This also means that gyms and fitness centres are to remain closed, much to the frustration of fitness lovers in the country. With no access to the gym, the sensible option for everyone wanting to get a workout in would be to focus on routines that can be performed within the solace of their own homes. At the same time, the success of performing a workout at home can also be significantly threatened by distractions that hide at every nook and corner of your home. For that reason, here are a few tips that you can implement to ensure that your determination to exercise and achieve your personal #fitnessgoals stay intact. Do away with the procrastination and get to limbering up, people, cuz’ it’s about to get hot and sweaty in here!
Choose a Workout Space Which Feels Most Zen to You
Locating a specific area of your home that can be utilised for safely performing workouts is an important first step towards maintaining your determination and focus in performing them consistently during the lockdown. It involves small modifications that you would need to make to the layout of a certain living space, given the fact that home-based workouts consist mainly of bodyweight exercises. Let’s try and understand this better together, shall we?
For example, by setting customised music playlists on ‘shuffle mode’ to set the ‘vibe’ for your routine or by allocating an ample amount of space within a living area for you and a partner to exercise together. Alternatively, performing a workout routine at home could also require use of a screen, especially if your workout requires the guidance of a fitness coach. It may take some getting used to at first but take our word for it when we say that your determination to workout consistently will double once you’ve transformed a particular space into your own personalised workout area. In other words, be the change you want to see in yourself. Easy peasy, no?
Dress Up for Your Show Up
First impressions are a big part of important events such as a key pitch to a client or a sales meeting with your immediate superior. We’re talking about self-confidence which not only involves how you walk and talk but how well you dress as well, a key aspect of winning half the psychological “battle”. In fact, presenting yourself as a well-dressed individual will not only convey a show of respect towards your client or manager but also indicates a show of respect towards the information you’re trying to present to these individuals.
Under similar circumstances, “suiting up” in active wear daily can actually increase your determination to workout instead of letting your body be idle. This notion is further enhanced by a 2012 study from the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology which concluded that choosing to wear your workout attire throughout your day can convince your brain that regular exercise is good for you. Get comfortable with wearing your active wear all day, errday, cuz’ it’s going to motivate you to stay focused towards achieving your individual fitness goals.
Planning Ahead for Daily Workouts
Being unable to complete a certain task within a given deadline usually boils down to a lack of organisation and more specifically, a failure to write it down in a daily organiser. Taking into account that enforcement of the lockdown may see you living a life that is more relaxed and sedentary in nature, it comes as no surprise that you may sometimes find it difficult to stay motivated in sticking to an exercise routine. This however, is caused by a lack of motivation and not a lack of organisation, as was initially thought. Well now, seems to us like we’ve got ourselves caught in a complicated situation, eh?
Interestingly enough, one of the best ways to get rid of this lack of motivation would be to “lock down” (see what we did there?) your daily workout at a time of day that is comfortable to you, whilst also taking into account the time needed to complete all your other daily tasks. Doing this will not only help you to stay disciplined towards achieving your #fitnessgoals but also boost your determination to complete your daily workouts. Physical fitness does not come instantly but rather through hard work and patience. You best believe that.
A Squad That Works Out Together, Stays Together! #BFF
Life is a lot more fun with a friend by your side, especially if this friend also happens to be your fitness partner. And yes, we totally get it if you’re upset at not being able to achieve any of the #fitnessgoals you’ve set out to accomplish with your fitness partner during the lockdown but worry no more. Thanks to video conferencing platforms, you can now partner up with friends in a virtual group workout without even having to leave the comforts of your own house. Who’s down for a sweatin’ good time?!
At times, you may find it hard to handle the intensity of a particular workout routine, especially if your personal trainer is not physically present to pick you up and motivate you to complete that “one last rep”. They can, however, still provide you with tips to improve your workout by analysing your form and how you transition from one exercise to another via a video conference call. Speaking of online coaching, be sure to check out our Facebook Live Workouts, which are guaranteed to help you to #KEEPONGLOWING your way to a sexy new body at home (no thank you needed).
Pick a Routine Which Feels Good to You
By choosing to perform an exercise routine that is not exactly “tailored” for you can result in bodily harm, instead of experiencing positive health benefits. One reason as to why this happens is because you’re not performing the exercises involved using proper form (a common occurrence if you’re performing an exercise for the first time) or if the routine is more intense than what your body is usually used to. Not only that, your workout of choice also must take into consideration the availability of space as well as the type of fitness equipment required. The inability to map out the necessary amount of space or to incorporate use of specific gym equipment can prevent your ability to perform a routine completely and hamper the full physical benefits of a workout. In simpler terms, ‘Like’ and ‘Subscribe’ to a routine that resonates with your passions and your personality.
Identifying a workout that you are truly passionate about will give you the added determination to perform it consistently as compared to wishing you could skip the workout every single time. And if you can stay fervent and include these practices as a mandatory part of your stay-at-home fitness routine, you’ll be on your way to improving your fitness and achieving #goals which just a while ago, seemed impossible to achieve. Stay home, and stay safe, everyone!
