There are some days when you might be having trouble motivating yourself to workout. While you’re committed to the 12-Week Challenge, or your own fitness routine, today you just aren’t feeling it. You’ve made progress, so having a day off won’t hurt, right?

Here are a couple of other reasons why you should still get moving.

 

You get a bit of ‘me-time’

Working out is the perfect escape. Put in those headphones and close yourself off for a little while. You’ll probably feel like a whole new person once you’re done.

 

Exercise improves your mood

Each time you work out, you release endorphins, which create feelings of happiness. Even just 30 minutes of exercise may completely turn a bad mood around.

 

Working out helps lower stress

Exercise can help to slow cortisol (the stress hormone) production in your body, which may help to reduce those nasty symptoms of stress. Working out may be one of the fastest ways to calm your mind, giving you a boost of endorphins to improve your happiness level as well.

 

It’s good for your brain

When you move regularly, it triggers a chemical in the brain that can help reduce the dreaded ‘brain fog’. Exercise helps to stimulate the sections of your brain that control memory, so you might also find it easier to remember things!

 

It helps your confidence

It’s not just losing weight or gaining muscle that helps you to feel good. Regular exercise can help improve your strength, balance and coordination too. Being able to carry a heavy bag, or lift a heavy weight while making it look easy, can do wonders for your confidence.

 

You’ll probably sleep better tonight

Dozens of studies over the years have found people who regularly exercise report sleeping better than those who don’t get enough exercise. Sleeping is the time when your body repairs itself and lets your mind relax, so anything you can do to improve your sleep quality is a good thing!

 

It’s a chance to make friends

Whether you take the same weekly fitness class, run the same track or visit the same gym, if you’re working out regularly, you’re likely to see familiar faces. You obviously already have one thing in common (wanting to be healthier), chances are you might bond over other things too.

 

You might inspire someone else

Without even realising it, you might be a role model for a friend or colleague. We’re regularly influenced not just by what our friends say, but by their behaviour as well. How nice is it to think you’re inspiring friends to take better care of themselves?!

 

Remember, there is a massive difference between your body needing to rest and thinking “I can’t be bothered”. It’s important that you rest when you feel that you need it, but if you’re thinking about skipping your workout because you’re lacking motivation, remember this list of reasons why you should show up and workout!

 

Wherever you are in the world, have a lovely day ❤

A, x (1)

27 Comments

  1. I can vouch for the stress relief benefit of exercise! It also helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety like tummy troubles, headaches, and trembling. That’s one of the main reasons why I increased my physical activity. This is an awesome post!

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Agree with this 100% and I’ve blogged about my wonderful gym before. It was a massive help when I felt down. Now I’m OK again I have so much energy that I’m doing 5 gym sessions most weeks and feel great.

    I now firmly believe that the days when you least feel like a workout are the days you most need one.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. It’s so great how you’ve focused on benefits of exercise that aren’t to do with weight/appearance:) Can totally agree that exercise helps me deal with ‘brain fog’ more than anything else and really improves my performance in other aspects of life!

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Great advice! Very motivating! For me my greatest motivator is knowing how hard it will hurt and how much harder I will have to work (again) from slacking or skipping. The more consistent I am, the stronger I am to endure my physical therapy.

    Liked by 1 person

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      2. Haha, I think that, than I also think ‘Calm down Anita, you did ONE squat, you’re not an athlete!’

        With practice, I know that youtube really helped me out.

        Youtube is a great learning spot for people 🙂

        Look at some at home exercises on youtube – I am sure you will find something that interests you ❤

        Liked by 1 person

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