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8 Ways to Improve Your Workout Mood
Written by
Jennifer Fox
We all have those days when the thought of having to complete our workout turns us from a smiling fitness enthusiast into a cranky, unmotivated grump. When you find yourself with a sour attitude you are unable to shake, try one of these ways to improve your workout mood and inject some positive energy into your fitness routine.
Drink Some Water
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Most of us are aware that staying well hydrated is important for your body's wellbeing, but dehydration can affect you more than just physically. It also has a negative effect on your brain, decreasing cognitive function and increasing lethargic feelings. If you find you are already in a funk before you even step foot in the gym, check your water consumption. Sip on some H2O to turn that bad mood around and give your brain and body a boost to tackle your workout.
Give it Five Minutes
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Some days you really, really, REALLY don't feel like working out, but dealing with the guilty feeling of skipping your workout isn't fun either. Here's a compromise: Tell yourself you just have to do five minutes. That's it. If you still feel bad or tired or miserable after five minutes, you can quit and go home, but give it your all for those five minutes. Once you get going, you'll want to do more, and it won't be quite as bad as you thought.
Pump Up the Tunes
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What if you were only one good song away from a better mood? Research shows that's not as farfetched as you might think. In addition to improving your emotional state, listening to upbeat music while exercising has been proven to decrease the perceived level of exertion at low-to-moderate intensities. If you're dreading your workout, take a few moments to load up a playlist of some of your favorite upbeat tracks, pop in those earbuds and let the music help improve your mood before you tackle the gym.
Phone a Friend
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You know you should get that workout in today, but binge-watching Netflix suddenly sounds infinitely more appealing. Before you park yourself on the sofa, take a few minutes to call (or text) a friend for a fitness pep talk. Sometimes a quick kick in the pants from someone we love can be enough to jumpstart our motivation and put us in a better frame of mind. A good friend will encourage you to remember why you chose your fitness goals in the first place, and they'll remind you that skipping out isn't going to get you any closer to those goals. A really good friend might even come join you!
Reward Yourself
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Somedays (Mondays, we're looking at you) it feels nearly impossible to motivate yourself to get things done. On these days, consider a concurrent reward--something you do while working out that helps you get through it. This could mean you save a favorite podcast for your run or a new TV episode for your time on the elliptical. Challenge yourself to watch or listen only during your exercise.
Go Rogue
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If you find yourself in an extended workout funk, it might be time to really shake things up. The next time you find yourself dreading the thought of yet another spin class or gym session, shake off expectations of what you think you should be doing, and try something totally different. Rock climbing, Zumba class, boot camp or even something like a mini trampoline workout can give your body (and mind!) a nice break while boosting your mood at the same time. It's fun to step out of the box, and trying a new activity once in a while can help reinvigorate your fitness routine.
Take a Selfie
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You may have promised yourself that you'd never become one of those people who takes selfies at the gym, but hear us out. Selfies are actually a useful tool for measuring progress and keeping you motivated. Fitness is hard work, and sometimes it's difficult to see the progress we've made until we look back at a picture of ourselves months ago and realize just how far we've come. Snapping periodic photos adds an honest visual element to your data and gives feedback on how your current fitness routine is working. On those days when the gym feels too hard and you're tempted to quit, you can improve your mood by looking at those photos to remind yourself of the progress you've made by sticking with it.
Kickoff With Cardio
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You know you are dreading your workout when you get to the gym then spend a good 10 minutes stalling. You search for your headphones, walk around a bit and spend a few minutes choosing a playlist and refilling your water bottle--anything to avoid actually having to work out. Next time you find yourself doing this, push yourself to hop on a cardio machine to walk, jog, row or bike at an easy pace for a quick 10 minutes. That little bit of cardio will increase your heart rate, get blood flowing to the muscles and prime your nervous system for exercise. It gives your mental state a boost as well, lifting your mood and helping you feel more motivated to tackle your training session.