By Zeina Bazarbachi | Staff Writer
“Ma ele jledeh,” are three words that come out of my mouth every 10 seconds when I think about going to the gym. Nevertheless, I still go. How?
Working out more is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Maybe this was on top of your list. Maybe you decided that this year was going to be different, that this was going to be your year… until January 5 rolled in and you decided to give up already.
How do we find the motivation to work out? How do we push through when the initial burst of motivation subsides? Here are a few things that you could try out.
First, find out why you work out. If it is some vague notion, some “because it’s good for you” or “because I feel guilty about what I eat,” it is highly likely that you’re going to have the same New Year’s resolution in 2025. Instead, be specific. Be real with yourself.
One of the main reasons I continue to hit the gym, time and time again when “ma ele jledeh,” is because I have my convictions about going. The main one: avoiding pain. After a year of being sedentary, my back started to ache, my knees began to hurt, and I was often lethargic. I am too young for this, I kept thinking. To hurt like that in my early 20s really gave me the push to try and remedy that. As my time at the gym increased, my pain began to decrease, and I felt better about myself.
Avoiding pain was not just a short-term motivation for me. When I look at the older members of my family who struggle with performing basic tasks, I am determined to try to postpone this as much as I can. I don’t want to be dragging my leg around or wincing as I get up when I’m in my 50s—so, I work out.
But, sometimes, we forget.
When my back and knees no longer hurt, I forgot about these motivations. When I didn’t visit my family in months, I forgot about the severity of their pain.
However, I decided to go anyway. How come?
Build your systems. This is something you might have heard of before, and that is because it works. Motivation is temporary, but the systems you create for yourselves lift you up.
One of my systems is coming to university in my leggings and workout shoes (having packed the rest of my gym equipment the night before). I hate the feeling of workout shoes on my feet. By committing to wearing them during the day, I feel like I just have to work out after my classes. Otherwise, I wore them for nothing.
When I finish my workout and press the “end workout” option on my watch, I feel proud. This is also a part of my system.
Most importantly, I don’t want you to get the sense that I’m a gym rat who works out five times per week. I don’t. I go to the gym twice a week. Yes, it’s not exactly the required amount, but, it’s better than nothing. And nothing was what I was previously doing.
Find your reason. Build your system. Negotiate what you are willing to do.