But the actual act of getting up and going to the gym fits within the same category of making a dentist appointment--I just don't want to.
Recently, I've attempted to get my behind back in gear to be more active. While I was in college, I had access to a gym right on campus and was on the step team. There was no way I could experience sloth because I was running, jumping, and stepping my way to health.
Post-grad life has allowed me to slip into inactivity and my bank account simply cannot afford lofty classes like boxing. A proud member of my local gym, I'm ashamed to say the only way I walk right around the corner to get in a sweat session is through some Jedi mind tricks.
It takes 30 days to build a habit. So, until I have developed the habitual gym ritual, here are five tricks I've employed to encourage me to get some exercise:
Get a buddy
My nieces are eight and two and as their overprotective aunty, I am a lover of all things buddy system and accountability. If the two-year-old falls, the eight-year-old is accountable for a detailed report as to how this occurred.
The same strategy can work with working out. A buddy can work in two ways, they can be your fellow gym rat sweating with you – which for many make for a more pleasurable gym experience. Or, if you work a crazy schedule like myself, this buddy can act as your gym mom, holding you accountable for the days you slacked off and reminding you of your goals. Just be sure to choose the right person, it's best to work with someone who is equally as invested and needs the same push.
Rack up on workout gear
It's not like I need another excuse to shop, but purchasing some get-fit gear is a fashionable excuse to hit the elliptical. Whether it's purchasing a couple sports bras in your favorite colors, yoga pants that make you feel like squats are life, or dope running sneakers, you have very limited occasions to rock these items and it certainly isn't at your desk.
Try a new class
Like I said, the gym can sometimes give me anxiety. I get bored with the routine and once I'm bored, I completely check out until I feel sloth-like again. To add some spice in my gym routine, I try to incorporate a variety of ways to stay in my tip-top shape.
Whether you incorporate bike riding in the park (snatch up this last wave of good weather), pole dancing with girlfriends, Zumba, or some other inventive workout, a little variety will go a long way.
Create a workout payroll
Recently, my best friend started paying herself after she completed a workout. Dedicating three solid days to #gymlife, she in turn drops a dollar in a jar. The jar is kept in a visible spot in her room so that she can see her progress and act as a reminder that it only gets fed if she puts in some sweat equity.
The best part about this workout payroll is that not only are you sculpting your body, you're giving your savings account some added muscle definition.
Take a selfie
Sweat is sexy. Showing off that hard earned glistening glow is a great way of tracking your progress and getting some positive reinforcement from your followers for logging in those hours.
Fold in another round of selfies to your timeline, you know you want to.
What are some things that you do to motivate you to work out?
Featured image by Giphy
Well, you're not alone. It's an unfortunate fact, but often times we'd rather put that new lipstick back or think twice about joining our girlfriends on vacation because we simply don't think we deserve it.
Fact: Money is a tool.
It is used to fulfill monetary obligations for services, pay off debts, and living expenses, but it is also a means to an end to enjoy the life we want to live.
We work hard for our money. Real hard. Bills, student loans, and other obligations lock our mental state in fear of constant financial instability. We feel pressure to adopt a scarcity mindset. It doesn't help that the economy is what it is and it's increasingly more difficult for folks to grab jobs – with or without a college degree.
Talking and dreaming about travel can be attainable with the right plan set in motion. It is important to implement financial balance into our lives.
While I'm not advising anyone to go out and blow money fast with every opportunity, I am advocating finding a way to make your money work for you. Beating yourself up after investing in a new wardrobe or booking a flight to someplace new is counterproductive. Remember, you are in charge of your purse strings.
You can include small splurges in your monthly budgeting – that isn't irresponsible, it is actually genius. Set a cap on what you'd like to spend and stick to it. When I vacation with my girlfriends, we have a set cap on what we'd like to spend. Even though we sometimes go a bit over (sometimes it's hard to put a cap on having fun), preparing for those expenses helps with keeping guilt from surfacing and interrupting your treat yo' self moments.
Leave that guilt at the door with these three steps:
Include Fun in Your Budget
Whether you're new or a veteran to budgeting, for those of us who love lists, creating a “fun" fund will make loosening up the purse strings while shopping or booking trips less of a traumatic feat.
Get the Most Bang For All Your Bucks
With a bit of extra work, hunting down deals can become exciting so that you get the most for the money that you spend. Discount codes are hidden in plain sight across the Interwebs, not to mention on sites like Groupon. Deals are a goldmine for vacations, dinners, adventures, and spa services.
Set Caps on Your Fun
While traveling the world, set a cap on how much you can comfortably spend without breaking bank. Consider your expenses and take note of all the excursions you might want to see. With a number in mind, you can comfortably and responsibly spend money without the fear of overdoing it.
There is more to life than paying bills and budgeting. You have an entire full life to live and holding your money close to your chest for a rainy day that might never come is not living fully, it's living in fear.
