On your fitness journey, you’re probably going to have days where you don’t feel quite up to working out. Maybe you find, mid-workout, that you don’t feel as strong as usual. Or maybe you find you’re just having trouble really getting “going.” It’s okay. Everybody experiences this!
Here are a few tips to keep in mind so those “bad” days don’t get you off track!
1. Give yourself 10 minutes.
Show up, give your workout 10 minutes, and see how you feel then. Odds are you’ll be out of that funk and want to finish your workout. You know what they say: Showing up is half the battle!
However, if you’re still lagging behind, don’t sweat it. Instead:
2. Move on.
You may have these days and not really be able to figure out why. Other days, you may know unequivocally that it’s due to lack of sleep, poor eating, stress, or even overtraining.
Whatever the reason, don’t over-analyze it too much. Just move on — and try to improve some of the things that you have control over.
3. Try shifting your focus.
This one is all about managing expectations. Instead of trying to go all out when your body is clearly saying no, switch your mindset.
Maybe focus on learning to do one skill a little better that day. You may not set that PR you’ve been gunning for, but getting a little better every day is just as important.
4. Make training a regular part of your routine.
Just being consistent is a quick way to make one bad workout a little easier to swallow. Even if you’re disappointed, you’ll know your next chance to rock it is tomorrow or whenever it’s next scheduled in your routine.
Which brings me to my next tip — one even I need to learn to follow!
5. Stop saying “bad.”
Yes, it’s habit I have, too (see above). But the truth is, there really is no such thing as a “bad workout.”
If you made it in to the studio, stayed with your routine, got some activity in even when you felt less than stellar, then that’s something to be proud of. Take some satisfaction in that.
6. Listen to your body.
Lastly, if you feel that you’re having more bad days than good, then your body may be trying to tell you something.
Do you need time off? Are you eating and sleeping enough? Are you really freaking stressed out? Be sure to pay attention—your body will usually let you know!