Getting Back Your Workout Mojo

Have you ever had one of those days where, halfway through your workout you suddenly think, "I'm so done with this workout"? There may not be any particular reason - you slept fine, you feel okay, you're doing your usual routine, but the usual drive you have to workout just isn't there. If you're just starting out, this can be a critical time. Skipping the workout may snowball into days or weeks of missed workouts. On the other hand, you may need to back off if it's just not happening. Here are a few tips for getting through a little bad mojo:

  1. Cut it short - Overcome a bad mojo day by shifting gears. If your original goal was to run 3 miles or lift weights for an hour, decide you'll go through a long warm up. If you don't feel like continuing after that, give yourself permission to quit and try again tomorrow.
  2. Give yourself permission to have a bad workout - We sometimes feel guilty when we're having a bad mojo day. We know there's no physical reason not to give our all and forget that mental energy is just important as physical energy. If the mental energy isn't there, you may not be able to workout at your normal level. Give yourself permission to back off and do what you can.
  3. Go through the motions - There will be times when you don't feel connected to your workout and your goals feel far away. It's tempting to give up completely, but going through the motions can remind you of what you're working for. Everything in life ebbs and flows, including your workout mojo - even if you don't feel it now, you will feel it again.
  4. Take a break - Mental energy can sometimes overcome lack of physical energy and vice versa, but when both are lagging, that may be a sign you're tired and need to back off. Take a day off or do something simple - take a walk or do some light stretching until you feel fully recovered.

What do you do when you can't find your workout mojo? Do you worry that it's gone forever and try to push yourself harder to get it back? Or do you recognize that it's just one of those days? Leave a comment and tell us about it.

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