We all have those days. You wake up in the morning, think about the day’s itinerary, and say to yourself, “I just don’t want to do it”. Or, sometimes you feel fine in the morning, but by mid-day you just want to go home and hide in bed.

We hear you. In particular, when it comes to workouts, sometimes you just don’t want to do it. But you also don’t want to lose the progress you’ve made… So, how do you handle these days?

Acknowledge it. The first thing to remember is that these days are inevitable. Everyone has them. It’s what you do about them that matters.

Keep your perspective. You’ve done plenty of things in your life, that you didn’t really want to do. How about those term papers in college? What about working extra hours so that you could pay for a vacation or buy a special gift? Think back to all of the times you’ve pushed through an uncomfortable experience… Were you glad that you persevered?

Focus on mental strength. It’s easy to say, “Well, fine then. I’ll skip my workout and I just won’t reach my physical goals quite as fast”. But if you push through your discomfort and exercise anyway, you’ll be building mental strength. And character is priceless!

Remember your reasons. Why do you exercise in the first place? Give yourself a clear visual reminder.

Look back on how far you’ve come. If you kept a journal or graphs of your progress, take a moment to look at them. You’ve come so far, as a result of your hard work.

Invite a friend to join you. It might be more fun to work out with a friend who will keep you accountable.

Change it up. Maybe you’re resisting exercise because you’re bored. Change up your routine and try something new.

Schedule a rest day. Sometimes you really do need to rest. If you’re super sore, sick, or haven’t had a rest day in a long time, maybe today it really is time to take a break. Just make sure you commit to getting right back into your regular routine tomorrow.