Working out is one of those things that we as a culture love to bemoan. And for good reason. It’s hard to get ourselves motivated to start working out in the first place. And with other obligations constantly getting in our way, it’s even harder to make it a consistent pattern.

With a new year now officially upon us, many of us are setting fitness goals for 2018. We all know that new year’s resolutions have a reputation for not panning out, especially ones related to exercise and healthy eating.

Reputation aside, I think it’s a good idea to at least try and fulfill new year’s resolutions. I have several that I’d like to fulfill myself, including a few related to fitness.

That being said, today I thought I would share some strategies I’ve found to be really helpful to stay motivated to work out in the wintertime. I don’t know if I’m the only one who feels this way, but when the temperatures drop, so does my motivation to work out.

It’s hard to keep my energy level up when it’s cold and gloomy outside. These strategies have worked well for me, and I hope they can provide you with similar success!

All-or-nothing 

This is a mindset that I like to apply to virtually everything I do. I think it’s a good way to get myself motivated, especially when it comes to fitness.

Basically, whenever I set a goal for myself, I like to ask myself if I’m really going to be willing to put in the work to accomplish it. Time is precious. And the way I see it, I should only be putting my time into things that I’m going to give 100 percent of my effort to.

There’s no sense in setting a goal if you genuinely don’t want to commit to it. Personal goals are supposed to be things we strive after because we want to, not because we have to. And if you find yourself not wanting to channel all your effort into something, chances are you don’t really want to achieve it.

Instead, you should put your energy into a goal that makes you happy. All of it. Not just a little sliver. The only things that deserve your energy are things that inspire you and excite you. Don’t waste your time pursuing goals that you aren’t excited to pursue.

Routines, routines, routines

The hardest part of any fitness goal is finding the time and the motivation to get started. Getting yourself acquainted to a new routine is always a challenge. When I first started running, I found it pretty difficult to fit it into my schedule. In fact, there were a lot of times when I just completely forgot about it.

In the first few weeks of a new workout schedule, I’ve found that it’s best to be as strict with yourself as possible. Don’t let up until your workout feels like clockwork. It’s a lot easier to abandon your fitness goals when they don’t feel like a part of your routine. But once they have become a staple of your schedule, it’ll be easier for you to keep going with them without feeling frustrated.

New gear 

You know what never fails to get me excited to exercise? A brand new workout top or pair of tennis shoes.

If you’re able to, it’s always a good idea to invest in something that’ll make your workouts seem like less of a chore. It doesn’t have to be clothes either. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try a group fitness class. Maybe you saw a cute water bottle that you’d like to buy.

Incentives are extremely powerful tools. Sometimes, all you need to get yourself going is a little reward.

Anyway, that concludes this post! I’m feeling kind of motivated right now, so I think I might go for a run. I’m wishing you all luck with your new year’s resolutions.

Do you like working out? If so, how do you stay motivated?

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