How to Break Out of Your Fitness Rut!

We all know the feeling you get when you do the same old workout routine over and over, week after week. It can become extremely boring to the point you don’t even want to work out anymore. Now you’re stuck in a rut. But it’s time to break free and get back on your grind headed towards your goals! And these 5 breakthrough tips will help you kick your fitness rut to the curb.

As a student athlete, you would think that I love working out all the time and never get into a slump, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth! There was a point in my life where, for almost a year, I didn’t look forward to working out… at all. I dreaded going to practice and negative thoughts would always flood my head the hours leading up. It was a hard time in my life and if I didn’t have to go, I probably wouldn’t have.

I needed a major change in my life and some motivation to get me going again. One of the biggest things that impacted me to breaking out of this rut was writing down my workouts after I had completed them. Now I know this sounds super simple and you’re probably thinking how is this going to make any difference, but trust me it really does. When I write down my workouts, it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something worthwhile every time. I get to go back and think about every exercise I did, and how many times I did it. The most satisfying part is looking back through the pages of my journal and seeing how far I’ve come and all that I have accomplished. Sometimes it even baffles me how much I am really capable of doing!

Another way to break out of your fitness rut is to jam out to an awesome new playlist. Music is so impactful when it comes to fitness. It not only can get you super excited to work out, but it can push you through your toughest reps. One of my favorite playlist’s right now is “Cardio Sweat” on Apple Music because it has tons of upbeat songs that put me in the best mood. I often get so eager to listen to it again that it makes it that much easier for me to head to the gym.

A super fun way to get excited about working out is by trying something completely new from your normal routine. Some of my favorite options are fitness classes. Yoga is my go-to, but cycling and Pilates are also great ways to get active. And what also surprises me is how often people don’t go outside to work out. Getting outdoors and taking a walk, hike, bike ride or even playing your favorite sport are some of the most fun ways to break a sweat! Not to mention fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for the body and your mental health.

The fourth tip is to grab a workout buddy. Not only can this be a great way to catch up with an old friend, but you don’t have to be sweating alone. Having a friend while you work out keeps you accountable and gives you someone to help motivate you to push through that last hard rep when you’re shaking and questioning why your exercise in the first place. The bonus of this is after you guys finish, you get to grab some brunch and talk about how you guys killed that workout together.

My last tip, and my personal favorite, is to get some new active wear! I know whenever I take the time to put an outfit together before I head out, my confidence is 10x higher then when I don’t. It’s no different for when you go to the gym! Get some super cute leggings, sports bra’s and even some fun running shoes that will have you feeling like a boss. As overused as the saying is, it still stands true: when you look good, you feel good. And feeling good about yourself can help motivate you to get some of your best workouts in.