Even for the go-getters among us — and we know there are plenty of bulldoggers that fit that description — motivation isn’t always the easiest thing. There are so many things in life competing for our time and attention that it can be tough to get mentally geared up for anything that doesn’t have an official deadline… even if it’s something you know is good for you, like an online yoga workout!
Once you’ve gotten into the groove of a new habit, how can you ensure that you’re motivated enough to consistently show up for it? It’s totally cool to take a day off from working out now and then, but ideally, you’ll be able to access your inner motivation any time you’re thinking it could be time for an online yoga workout. After all, there are plenty of other things that might distract you from your wellness regimen — work commitments, family time, etc. — so you might as well try to remove lack of motivation from your list of workout obstacles so you can set yourself up for success as much as possible.
So what’s a bulldogger to do when motivation lags for an online yoga workout… or any other form of exercise, for that matter?
Here are some handy tips and tricks to keep your motivation levels up and to help you stay on track with your online yoga goals:
1. Do it daily.
At first, this might seem a little counterintuitive. After all, if your issue with getting consistent with your online yoga workout is that you can’t get motivated in the first place, how will getting on the mat every day help? It’s a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg issue, isn’t it?
Not really! Hear us out — well, actually, hear experts at the Mayo Clinic out, because they really know what they’re talking about.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a great tip for staying motivated with your online yoga workouts is to plan for them every day. Schedule them into your daily routine just as you would brushing your teeth or tidying up your kitchen or showing up to work. The more you get used to not exercising on a daily basis, the harder it will be for you to even begin to get motivated.
Plus, if you plan to do an online yoga workout every day and take a break here or there, you still have quite a fitness routine going!
2. Use the buddy system.
We’re hardly the first ones to suggest that finding an accountability buddy will help you stay accountable and motivated in your wellness journey. We’re actually just adding our voices to the already loud chorus of people telling you how effective this strategy can be — and that’s because it really works.
Find someone in your life who is equally excited to get into a good fitness routine, then invite them to be your accountability partner for online yoga workouts. One of the best things about recruiting a buddy for online workouts is that you can both get your sweat sessions in on your own terms, in your own space, and on your own schedule. For these kinds of online workouts, having an accountability buddy can even work when we’re dealing with social distancing!
You can check in with your accountability buddy any time you’re feeling your motivation lagging and cheer them on when they’re feeling the same way. The National Institute for Fitness & Sport highly recommends this approach!
3. Work toward a goal.
We all have a general understanding that working out has plenty of benefits for our physical and mental health, but when that’s not enough to get you pumped up for a gym session, jog, or online yoga workout, it might be time to buckle down.
Let’s get specific. What do you actually want to accomplish with your online yoga workouts? Do you want to get more flexible? Increase your body strength? Improve your overall fitness? Or do you just want to get more comfortable with exercise?
There’s no “right” or “wrong” answer, and no goal is too small. The trick is to simply set a goal. Write it down somewhere you can see it regularly. Tell your friends and family about it! That way, when you’re feeling less than motivated to follow through with an online yoga workout, you’ll have a clear reminder of why you wanted to do it in the first place. Many people also find that committing to a specific workout plan also helps with goal setting.
4. Allow for some flexibility.
It’s really easy to quit before you even start an online yoga workout when you’re super rigid about how and when that workout needs to happen. When you insist on getting on the mat only at a certain time, in a certain place, or under certain circumstances, it’s a lot easier to give yourself permission to skip out on that workout when schedules and other things change. From there, the cycle of lacking motivation just continues!
If you allow for a little flexibility, you’re a lot more likely to stay motivated. As workouts go, online yoga workouts are especially well-suited for this kind of flexibility. Since you can access our bulldog online classes wherever and whenever it works for you (even if you’re wearing your shark slippers), there’s not really any excuse not to be flexible!
This brings us to our next tip…
5. Work out when your energy is highest.
Everyone experiences their highest energy levels at different times of the day. You’ve probably heard that working out first thing in the morning is ideal… but that’s not especially helpful for people who are naturally foggier until mid-day.
Take some time to think about when you tend to have the most energy. If you are lucky enough to be a morning person, go ahead and set that alarm so you can do your online yoga workout first thing. If you’re more of a night owl, do your yoga flow before bed. And since you can check out online classes literally any time, you can do an online yoga workout at any other time of day — during your lunch break, while your kids are napping… you catch our drift.
Schedule your workouts based on what you know about your own energy levels to set yourself up for maximum motivation.
6. Have fun with it!
If the experts at the Mayo Clinic are recommending fun as a key element to staying motivated in your fitness, you know it’s legit. And we agree!
It’s a lot easier to get motivated to exercise when you’re actually enjoying the exercise, which is why we’re happy to report that online yoga workouts are a very good time.
Some of our other tips — including finding a buddy, working out when you have plenty of energy, and being flexible — can also go a long way toward making the fitness experience more fun!