Balancing university and finding time for the gym can often be very difficult. Many of you might have part-time work to throw into the mix, making it a whole lot harder to manage it all. With these priorities at hand, we get it, it’s easy to let go of looking after your fitness and health. Before you know it, your energy levels are down and you’re finding that running isn’t as easy as you remember, leaving you to wish there was a way to juggle it all.
To help you keep your fitness all semester round, here my top tips:
Dress for the gym
Some research has suggested that dressing for the part can help fuel your ambitions to complete a task. By breaking down your obstacles, will help to set you up for success. Try wearing your gym kit on the days you plan to workout so you have almost no excuse not to go.
Workout with a friend
Having a friend to go to the gym can help in many ways. For example, you’re less likely to make excuses when you know someone else is counting on you to go. A workout buddy will also help push you when you are in the gym. Seeing them perform well can give you that extra push. Find a friend you can go with and get training together!
Have a workout plan
Have a set plan of what you’re going to do in the gym before you head to the gym so you can use that time in the gym optimally. You’re more likely to stick to your training if you have a plan, and in turn, see progress and reach your results faster so just adding that extra time beforehand is all worthwhile. If you’re not sure how to programme your workouts, you can always ask the help from yours truly or even try out a class.
Set yourself realistic goals
Having goals is great way to keep you motivated but the key is to not set yourself up for disappointment. Make sure you are setting challenging goals that are realistic and achievable at the same time. Every time you go to the gym, remind yourself of the goals you’ve set yourself to achieve to give purpose around your training. Need helping setting goals? Just drop me a message and we can start you on your fitness journey.
Consider getting a personal trainer
We know this might sound out of reach on a student budget, but having a coach to hold you accountable can be a great investment, particularly if you’re new to the gym. A coach, such as myself, will be able to provide and support you with a personalised plan tailored to your goals, show you how to use the equipment correctly and give you invaluable training tips, and much more. You’ll be skipping all the guess work on how to get to your goals, fast tracking you to smash your fitness goals!
Keep active throughout the day
For the times you can’t make it to the gym, try keeping active throughout the day. For example, you could try taking the stairs instead of taking the lift, take a break from studying by doing some bodyweight squats, catching up with a friend over a walk instead of sitting in a café. Sneaking in more movement into your day can be a great and easy way to keep you activity levels up.