Are You Struggling With Mental Blocks Around Fitness?
Sometimes when it comes to exercise, the challenge is not physical, it’s mental.
Finding the energy to get up and workout or to go to the gym after work instead of going home are relatable for all of us. If you can conquer the mental battle with fitness - the rest will follow!
What causes a mental block?
There could be a variety of factors affecting the way you view exercise or your enthusiasm to workout. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by everything we are trying to fit in and so the first thing to go is often the thing you need the most.
Mental blocks can also come if you are returning to exercise after a lengthened period of time off. The less we exercise, the less motivated we are to restart and we often keep putting it off.
We may also be nervous about exercise, the gym can be a scary place and so our brains can tell us we would be better off at home rather than in a place that could make us feel uncomfortable or nervous.
How To Approach Mental Blocks
One of the best things you can do first is to write down exactly what your block is. Try to be really honest with yourself here as no one will be judging you.
Perhaps you can’t be bothered to exercise, you’d rather be at home?
Maybe you are nervous at the idea of the gym and worried people will be looking at you?
Are you stressed about fitting the gym in around everything else you’ve got to do?
These are all really common mental blocks and you don’t need to feel bad if this is you, being open and honest about what’s stopping you exercising is the first step towards overcoming it.
How To Overcome Mental Blocks
Now that you’ve identified what your mental block is, it’s time to work at overcoming it.
If you lack motivation:
The best way to tackle this is to book a personal trainer. It doesn’t have to be forever but it will definitely help you to kickstart your regime again and make you accountable for your fitness. You are far less likely to bail on a gym session when you know that there is someone there waiting for you!
If you are nervous about the gym:
Perhaps rather than starting with the gym you go to a class? Ask a friend to go with you so that you feel more comfortable. You could even stay away from the gym altogether and choose a walk or bike ride. Let yourself get comfortable with exercise and build up to going in the gym to ease anxiety.
If you are struggling to fit exercise in:
Our best tip for managing a busy schedule is to think of exercise like an appointment. You would make the effort to keep a doctors appointment so make it the same for your exercise.
At the start of the week, go through your diary and book in where you could do a class or a quick gym session. Yes this might mean getting up a bit earlier or heading out on your lunch break but the more effort you make - the more reward you get!
Mark these times in your diary and don’t let anything change them - work around them in the same way you would a meeting.
