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Have you been skipping the gym?

When you don’t want to do something, it’s easy to find a thousand excuses to skip the task you’re dreading and spend your time on other things. However, if that thing you’re skipping is the gym, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. Physical exercise is necessary for personal fitness, and establishing a solid gym habit is a great way to build it into your life. Exercise is what helped me lose all the weight the first time around and while I never used to enjoy the gym, I find it easier this time! 

Instead of skipping the gym, see if you can figure out why you’re actually cutting it out – and do something to change your mindset and make it fun for yourself.

Here are five reasons you’re probably skipping the gym, including all the excuses I’ve used before – and how to stop!

Excuse #1: I’m too tired.

This is an incredibly common excuse for skipping the gym. While it isn’t a great idea to work out when you’re absolutely exhausted, you can still get a good workout in when you’re a little low on energy. The important thing is to figure out why you don’t have enough energy and to do something about it!

How to stop: Determine what’s making you so tired and fix it. Don’t have enough energy at the end of a long workday? Hit the gym first thing in the morning. If diet is it the problem, wake up by snacking on high-energy, nutrient-rich foods like almonds.

Excuse #2: I don’t have time.

Let’s be honest – we’re all busy. It can be tough to squeeze in your weekly workouts, especially when you’re feeling crunched on time, but this isn’t an excuse for skipping the gym entirely. With 24 hours in a day, you can certainly find a few minutes to squeeze in some strength training or cardio.

How to stop: Sit down on Sunday and plan your schedule for the week. If working out is important to you (and it should be!), commit to your personal fitness by penciling in your workouts on your calendar.

Excuse #3: I don’t know what I’m doing.

Feel a little lost and confused at the gym? Not sure how some of the machines work – or even how to do a proper deadlift? Good news – you’re not alone. Even the strongest guys and gals in the gym had to start from somewhere.

How to stop: If you can’t will yourself to get uncomfortable and just get it done, consider splurging on a few sessions with a personal trainer. They can walk you through a workout routine you can follow and can show you how to perform exercises with proper form. If you don’t have the money to spend on a trainer, you can find lots of tutorials on Youtube that demonstrate the right way to move when performing certain exercises.

Excuse #4: I’m way too self-conscious.

Some of us are our own biggest barriers to success. If you can’t step into the gym or hit the pavement for a run without worrying that everyone’s staring at you, it’s time to shift your mindset to overcome this hurdle.

How to stop: A little tough love can help here. It might be hard to convince yourself, but people really aren’t staring at you, I promise. 99% of people out there are way too worried about themselves to spend time and energy criticizing your squat form or watching you run. Plus, we all have to start somewhere. 

Excuse #5: Working out just isn’t fun.

When you’re dreading your daily workout, it can be all too easy to skip the gym and come up with a decent excuse to watch Netflix instead. One thing I’ve learned is that if you aren’t having fun, it’s your own fault. Shift your mindset and your mood and heading to the gym will be much easier.

How to stop: Find a workout you actually love. Try fitness classes or home workout videos. Tune up your dusty bike and take it for a spin, or strap on some boots and go for a hike. You might be surprised to see how much fun you can have when you’re doing something you actually enjoy. Or try something completely different! – I do netball and love the sweat and social aspect too.