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Jessica C • Mar 09, 2022

6 Steps To Motivate Yourself To Work Out On Your Own

Do you ever struggle with staying consistent with your workout routine? Is this journey hard because you can’t motivate yourself to work out on your own?

Many people love the idea of having a consistent workout schedule. The thought of feeling strong and fit is exciting, but due to a lack of consistency, many don’t get to experience the long-term benefits. I’ve seen many people start, but they find it hard to stay committed, especially when they’re doing this on their own. What if I told you it’s possible to remain committed, to start your journey on your own?

In this article, I will be sharing some tips on how to motivate yourself to work out on your own. Granted, it’s not going to be easy, but if you’re truly determined, you can make this happen.

1. Figure out your why

The first step is finding out why you want to work out! Depending on why you want to work out, you can determine what activity you choose and how many days you plan on doing this. For example, here are some reasons to start your workout journey:

Perhaps improving your health is your why.
  • You’re doing it to improve your overall health
  • You want to gain muscle
  • You’re looking to lose some weight
  • You’re tired of constantly feeling tired
  • You want to train for a marathon
  • You’ve been dealing with stress and anxiety

Now that you understand your reason for starting, choosing what type of activity you’d like to do will be much easier. Let’s say your reason for starting a workout routine is because you’ve been feeling super tired and sluggish. Something that could help is incorporating daily movement! Walking and getting your steps sounds like an excellent place to start. Another great example; let’s say you would like to gain muscle mass. This means that you would lean more towards incorporating weight lifting sessions.

2. Set realistic goals

You already know the reason you want to start your workout routine. Now we need to set realistic goals. These goals should be something you can achieve in the short-term and long-term.

For example, a short-term goal could be to work out two times this week. A long-term goal could be to lose 15 pounds in the next three months. When you set goals for yourself, you must set yourself up for success. You don’t want to set an unrealistic goal.

Write down your goals!

If you look at your schedule and you already know that you can only dedicate two days out of the week for your workout, why aim for four? This will quickly discourage you. Once you see that you’re unable to accomplish your goal, you’ll want to give up and you’re back to square one. Instead, find what works best, and you’ll be able to stick to it long-term.

3. Find an exercise routine that you enjoy doing

If you want to stick to a good routine and motivate yourself to work out on your own, start with something you enjoy. You’re more likely to stick to something you enjoy doing. If you start with running, but you hate running, chances are you won’t last a week. Focus on building consistency. Once you’ve made working out part of your routine, you can start looking at other forms of exercise.

Start your fitness journey by dancing if that’s what you enjoy.

For example, let’s say you’re looking to work out, but dancing is the only thing you enjoy. Why not start with that? Take 2 or 3 days out of the week and dance for 20 minutes. Once this has become part of your daily routine, you can incorporate other activities such as lifting weights. The most important thing is to get you started with what you enjoy.

4. Make a plan

A goal without a plan is just a wish! If we want to make something happen successfully, we need to write it down, put it in our schedule, set a specific time, and set our alarm. When we have it written in our calendar, it’s a way we make that commitment with ourselves. What usually happens when we don’t write it down? We leave it for later!

Has this happened to you? You told yourself, “Ok, Monday is the day I start my workout routine, and I’m ready.” Oops! You made the big mistake of not setting a time for your workout, so each hour of the day, you say, “I’ll get to it in a little bit.” Next thing you know, it’s 7 PM, it’s time for dinner, and you’re too exhausted to make it happen.

motivate yourself to workout on your own
If you wait until the last minute, it won’t happen!

The lesson: Set a specific time, write it down, and set reminders. If you want to motivate yourself to work out on your own, this step is crucial.

5. Find an accountability partner or group to keep you on track

Tell someone about it as soon as you realize you want to start your journey and have a written plan! This is a great way to make sure it happens. When you have someone to hold you accountable, it makes the journey easier. We’re more likely to stick to something if we know someone is waiting to see results. This could be a friend, family member, or someone in an accountability group.

Share your journey on social media to hold yourself accountable.

If you want to motivate yourself to work out on your own, you can also start your fitness journey on social media. Let the world know that you’re going to do this! I’ve seen people do the contrary. They don’t tell anyone about their plan because they’re afraid of failing. Having this mentality will give you the perfect excuse for quitting your journey. Why not put this on blast! Sharing your journey will make you feel like a team is supporting you.

Also, think about all the people you can motivate by sharing your journey. If others see that you could motivate yourself to work out on your own, that will give them the confidence they lack. Perhaps this is the boost they have been looking for.

6. Be patient and don’t give up – Rome wasn’t built in a day!

This last tip is super important! When you start working out, you might deal with different obstacles. Maybe you miss a workout and feel like you failed because of this. You might get discouraged if you don’t see immediate change. It’s not abnormal to feel some soreness a few days after a workout. This is usually because our body isn’t used to the new routine. It’s important to be patient and give ourselves time to adjust. Once you have formed a routine, it gets easier.

In addition, don’t forget that Rome wasn’t built in a day! Meaning if you’re looking to transform your body, this will take time. Don’t believe the social media 30-day ab transformation challenges. Can you see some results after a month? You might. But it will most likely take months of putting in the work. These are simply marketing schemes to get people to purchase something. Real results take time and effort.

Don’t get discouraged; it takes time to see results.

Now that you have these tips, it’s time to get started on your fitness journey! Remember, take things one step at a time and be patient. You will reach your goals ! If you need some accountability cause, let’s face it, motivating yourself to workout alone isn’t always easy; feel free to sign up for my 1:1 Coaching . With my program, you will adopt new habits, create a solid workout routine and have the accountability you need.

Are you ready to motivate yourself to work out on your own?

In conclusion, these tips are meant to help you get started on your fitness journey, but remember that every person’s journey is different. What works for one person might not work for you. So be creative and find what works best for you!

Motivating yourself to work out on your own can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. These tips will help you get started on your fitness journey and make sure that you reach your goals!

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Jess Chambers

NASM-CNC, BCS, CPT

@Lifthealthybyjess

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Hey there! Want daily inspiration, nutrition tips, and fitness motivation? Follow Lift Healthy by Jess on Instagram for delicious recipes, workout ideas, and success stories from clients who love all things health. Join our community for expert guidance and a daily dose of wellness goodness. Let's crush those goals together!

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