Your Health And Fitness Journey Is Supposed To Be Boring - Here’s How To Stay Dedicated

When setting out to achieve a new goal, the key to success is consistency! It’s the ability to stick to a certain set of habits or daily tasks to progressively improve. No matter how long or slow the journey may seem, it’s the ability to drown out the noise and stay focused. But the truth of it all is… this journey can be extremely boring. And it should be!! 

Constantly switching up what you’re doing can create confounding variables, making it difficult to track progress and strategically alter your programming to keep progress moving along smoothly. Especially when it comes to strength and hypertrophy training, constantly switching up your training completely messes with the entire concept of progressive overload. So sticking to the plan (even when you’re getting a little bored with it) is SO IMPORTANT. 

Periods of low motivation happen to everyone. So here are some tips to combat boredom, stay dedicated, and crush your goals.

1. Remember your “WHY”. 

When setting your goal, you should outline exactly “why” you want to achieve this goal. Is your “why” to better yourself? Live a longer, healthier life? Challenge yourself to be the best you can be? There are a million reasons why you may want to improve your diet and training. On the days when motivation is low and the journey seems too difficult, take a moment to reflect on that “why”. Write it down and keep it in a visible location so you can refer back to it often!

2. Develop a high-level timeline.

Setting a vague and broad goal, like “I want to lose body fat and build muscle” is fine… but it doesn’t give you a set timeline or idea of what small milestones you’ll need to achieve to get there. A goal like this can easily feel overwhelming and dedication will plummet quickly. Whether you set specific timestamps to hit certain milestones or outline specific tasks you’d like to complete on the way to hitting your ultimate goal, breaking up your journey into smaller, bite-sized timelines can keep motivation high.

3. Keep a weekly log to track progress.

We often become blind to our progress. Make sure you’re measuring your progress often, either through weekly weigh-ins, training logs, form videos, progress photos, body part measurements, or habit trackers to see over time how you’re progressing and improving. Use these measures as evidence that you’re making progress on the days when you start to doubt yourself.

4. Rely on your support system.

Whether it’s friends, family members, a coach, or a personal trainer, make sure you keep your support system informed on your wins, struggles, roadblocks, and improvements throughout your journey. They’re there to lift you and keep you focused on the days when you need a little extra push.

5. Log off and disconnect from social media. 

It’s human nature to compare ourselves to others - especially those who look like they have it all figured out on social media. It’s important to remember that what we see on social media is usually heavily edited, leaving only a highlight reel of everyone’s lives. If scrolling on social media is leaving you discouraged and unmotivated with your progress, then it’s time to log off and get back to reality. 

Looking to elevate your support system with an online coach or 1:1 personal trainer? Reach out for a free 10-minute consult call to explore how 1:1 personal training or online coaching can get you on the right track with your goals.