motivation, fitness, working out, gym, 2025 There are times when training can make us feel lazy, image: Pexels
As the new year begins, the gym becomes part of our main goals. Whether it's with the aim of acquiring a new wellness routine or reaching places we hadn't even considered, fitness is one of the areas that takes center stage in our lives during the month of January. Those of us who already have a stable training routine seek to give it our all and achieve better results.
However, it is likely to be difficult, as there are times when training can make us feel lazy, monotonous or when we simply see ourselves stagnating in our progress and lose motivation. To avoid this, there is a very simple trick: compete against ourselves.
There are those who have a competitive spirit with others so extreme that it is harmful, and on the other hand, there are those who simply train without even monitoring their performance. The ultimate motivation tip is to find a balance between the two, to position ourselves in a constant search for the best version of ourselves; that is, for new personal records. It is something that, thanks to social networks, has become increasingly popular and encourages us to make a little more effort in each of our workouts.
The pursuit of personal records involves setting specific and realistic goals. For example, we want to run 5 kilometers without stopping, or squat 60 kilos. These are goals that we set for ourselves and that, therefore, are adapted to our abilities and fitness level. Breaking a personal record is something that we see ourselves capable of achieving with work and discipline and that, in this way, motivates us.
It's not about seeking external validation or showing off. It's about improving yourself and making those goals meaningful to you. Competing with others can lead to comparisons that harm you mentally because you may feel like your progress isn't enough. Competing with yourself is about seeing how you're making your own path and enjoying it.
The first thing we need to know is what we want to improve in the gym: do we want to prioritize running, strength training or another sport? And do we want to combine it with other things? These decisions will determine what we will focus on in our sessions and how we will organize them. The best way to motivate ourselves is to look for an activity for which we consider we have innate abilities ; that is, those in which, although we are not experts, we believe we are good at or would be good at.
This allows us to see improvements, breaking limits, but at the same time, to focus on activities in which we are not experts and that challenge us. They should be difficult, but not impossible to achieve. From there, we will have to choose a goal that is realistic . If we have never run before, we cannot expect to run 15 kilometers. We can simply start with the goal of starting to run twice a week and then modify it according to our progress.
It is essential that we monitor our performance and follow a strategy when training. When we achieve small goals, celebrating them will also give us an extra dose of motivation.
However, we must know that this path will not be linear and that there will be times when we will probably find ourselves stuck again. In these cases, we will have to do one very simple thing: keep going, keep training and never give up.
[via GQ Spain]
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