Blog & Resources
Does this sound familiar? You’re extremely busy with work and other obligations, and you don’t have time to go to the gym or cook healthy meals. You’ve been trying to stick to a workout routine and eat healthy, but it’s been tough to stay motivated. You’ve been skipping workouts and eating unhealthy foods more often than not. You feel like you’re constantly struggling to keep up, and you’re not sure how much longer you can keep this up.
We get it. Being busy and short on time presents some real challenges when trying to stay motivated and on track with health and fitness such as lack of time, lack of energy, and lack of willpower.
When you’re busy, it’s tough to find time to go to the gym or cook healthy meals. When you’re tired, it’s tough to muster up the energy to work out. And when you’re feeling weak-willed, it’s tough to resist the temptation to eat unhealthy foods.
Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to stay motivated and on track with your health and fitness goals when you’re busy. Here are five of them:
1. Make a list of your goals.
When you have a specific goal in mind, it’s easier to stay motivated. Write down what you want to achieve, and make sure your goals are realistic and achievable.
- When you have a written list of your goals, you’re more likely to achieve them.
- Having a list of goals helps you stay focused and motivated.
- Writing down your goals makes them feel more real and tangible.
- When you share your goals with others, they can help keep you accountable.
2. Create a schedule to keep yourself on track and stick with it
Creating a schedule is important because it helps you stay organized and on track. Figure out when you’re going to work out and cook healthy meals, and make sure those times are blocked off in your calendar.
Having a schedule allows you to plan out your day, week, or month and allot time for working out and cooking healthy meals. This will help you stay accountable and make it less likely that you’ll miss workouts or eat unhealthy foods.
How to make a schedule that works for you
- Plan Ahead. If you know you’re going to be busy on a certain day, plan workouts and meals ahead of time. That way, you won’t have to worry about it when the time comes.
- Make Use of Technology. There are a lot of great apps and websites that can help you stay on track with your health and fitness goals. Find one that fits your needs and use it to help you stay organized.
- Set Realistic Goals. Don’t try to fit too many workouts or healthy meals into a short period of time. It’s more important to be consistent than it is to do a lot all at once.
- Find a Fitness Buddy. Working out with someone else can make it more fun and help you stay on track.
- Take a Break. If you feel like you’re struggling to stay motivated, take a break. Relax for a day or two and then try again. You may find that you have more energy once you get back into it.
How to stay motivated when your schedule changes
When your schedule changes, it can be tough to stick to your planned workouts and meals. But these things happen and it is important to have a plan B.
If your schedule changes and you can’t stick to your planned workouts, here are a few back-up ideas to have handy:
- Workout at Home. There are a lot of great exercises that you can do at home without any equipment. Find a few that you like and fit them into your schedule.
- Watch YouTube Videos. There are a lot of great workout videos on YouTube that you can do with no equipment.
- Go for a Walk. If you can’t do a full workout, go for a walk instead. It’s a great way to get some exercise and fresh air.
If you can’t stick to your planned meals, here are a few ideas:
- Cook in Bulk. Cook a large batch of healthy, nutritious food on the weekends and eat it throughout the week. This will help you save time and avoid unhealthy eating.
- Pack Your Own Meals. If you’re going to be away from home, pack your own meals instead of eating out. This will help you stay on track with your diet goals.
- Find Healthy Alternatives to Your Favorite Foods. If you’re struggling to give up your favorite unhealthy foods, find a healthy alternative that you like just as much. This will make it easier to stick to your diet.
- Start Small. Don’t try to overhaul your entire diet at once. Start small by making one or two small changes each week. This will make it less overwhelming and more likely that you’ll stick to them.
How to deal with temptation when your schedule doesn’t allow for a healthy meal
When your schedule doesn’t allow for a healthy meal, it can be tough to resist temptation. Here are a few tips for dealing with temptation when you’re busy:
- Carry Healthy Snacks with You. If you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time, pack healthy snacks with you so you won’t be tempted to eat unhealthy foods.
- Make a Healthy Meal Ahead of Time. If you know you’re going to be busy, cook a healthy meal ahead of time so you can eat it when you don’t have time to cook.
- Get Rid of Unhealthy Foods from Your Home. If unhealthy foods are readily available, it’s going to be tough to resist them. Get rid of any unhealthy foods from your home so you won’t be tempted to eat them.
- Talk to a Friend. If you’re struggling with temptation, talk to a friend about it. They may be able to give you some helpful advice and support.
- Plan Ahead. If you know that you’re going to be busy and that you’re going to be tempted to eat unhealthy foods, plan ahead. Have a healthy meal or snack ready to eat when you don’t have time to cook.
3. Reward yourself after you complete tasks on your list, such as going for a walk or eating something healthy
When you achieve a goal, reward yourself with something that’s healthy and enjoyable. This will motivate you to keep working towards your goals.
Make a list of things you’re looking forward to rewarding yourself with after you complete certain tasks, such as going for a walk or eating something healthy. This will help keep you motivated throughout the day.
When you feel down or unmotivated, look at your list of things you’re looking forward to. This will help pick you up and get you excited about life again.
Here are some ideas:
- Watching a Favorite Movie
- Spending Time with Friends
- Reading Your Favorite Book
- Going for a Relaxing Walk
- Listening to Your Favorite Music
4. Find someone else who is also trying to stay motivated and work together
Find a friend or family member who is also trying to stay motivated, and work together to support each other. This will help you both stay on track and make it more likely that you’ll achieve your goals.
5. Keep a positive attitude and don’t get discouraged if you slip up now and then. Just start fresh the next day!
We all have off days where we don’t feel motivated or inspired to work towards our goals. It’s important to stay positive and don’t get discouraged if you slip up now and then.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s important to be positive and optimistic, but don’t be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake.Don’t let one mistake turn into a pattern of bad behavior. Just start fresh the next day and keep moving forward.
You can do it!
When life gets busy, it can be tough to stay on track with your health and fitness goals. But with a little planning and effort, you can make it happen.
Start small, be patient, and reward yourself for your accomplishments. And most importantly, don’t get discouraged if you have an off day. Stay focused on improving by just 1% each day. This will help you gradually make progress and reach your goals.
Follow these tips and you’ll be able to reach your goals, no matter how busy you are.
FAQ
Q: How can I stay motivated when I don’t see results immediately?
A: It’s important to be patient and focus on improving by just 1% each day. This will help you gradually make progress and reach your goals.
Q: What should I do if I get discouraged?
A: Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have an off day. Just start fresh the next day and keep moving forward. Stay focused on improving by just 1% each day. This will help you gradually make progress and reach your goals.
Q: What if I can’t find someone to work with me?
A: You can find a friend or family member who is also trying to stay motivated, and work together to support each other. This will help you both stay on track and make it more likely that you’ll achieve your goals.
Working with a trainer like Individual Fitness, you get a built-in accountability and support system! If you’re looking for help staying motivated and on track with your health and fitness goals, reach out to us at Individual Fitness. We offer personal training and nutrition coaching that can help you reach your goals, no matter how busy you are!
Q: What if I’m struggling with temptation?
A: If you’re struggling with temptation, talk to a friend about it. They may be able to give you some helpful advice and support.
Plan ahead. If you know that you’re going to be busy and that you’re going to be tempted to eat unhealthy foods, plan ahead. Have a healthy meal or snack ready to eat when you don’t have time to cook. This will help you stay on track even when you’re busy.
Q: What if I miss a workout?
A: Don’t worry, everyone misses workouts sometimes. Just start fresh the next day and keep moving forward.