THE PULSE

“I can’t wait to work out tomorrow!” you say before bed—only for your motivation to wane by the time you wake up. Your bed is so warm and comfy, and working out sounds hard…

If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably already tried your share of tricks for motivation. You track your progress, you reward yourself—maybe you even slept in your workout clothes, but sometimes the warm bed still wins. Whatever you do, don’t give up! Here are three new motivation hacks for you to try.

Save up your motivation

Every time you come across something that gets you excited to work out—maybe it’s a killer playlist, a motivational quote, or a selfie you took at the gym when you were feeling that post-workout rush—save it to a special folder on your computer or phone. Later, when you’re struggling with motivation, you can open the folder and remember why you love to work out.
 

Write a self-contract

For many of us, money talks. Write a self-contract that outlines your commitment to your fitness goals. Make sure your goal is clear and achievable: for example, maybe you’re going to go to the gym three times a week, which would mean you get a FIT CLUB prize at the end of the month. Then write out the consequences if you break it. Consider giving a pre-determined amount of money to a friend for safekeeping – and if you break your contract, you donate that money to charity. Some apps also offer this service.
 

Put that one workout on the schedule first

Is there one workout you like so much that it almost feels like a guilty pleasure? Maybe you love to hike, swim, dance, or take a restorative yoga class. Even if these workouts don’t align with your current fitness goals in an obvious way, put that special workout on your schedule EVERY. WEEK. A body in motion tends to stay in motion, and that counts for your body, too. You’re less likely to skip the workout you love, and the more you move your body, the more likely you are to tackle those tougher workouts, too.