Motivation and Routines

Finding Motivation in College:

We’ve all been there. From lying in bed in the morning thinking “can I skip this class and be fine?”, to wondering if the gym can wait a day because you don’t have the energy to go. For me this hits about half way through the semester. Once I start getting exam after exam after project after project, I find myself with a lack of motivation and more importantly a lack of gains.

A lack of motivation is something that affects all aspects of your life. It’s essentially what drives you to do the things that you do. Once that starts slipping and times get rough your personal health is one of the first things to be put on hold.

Luckily that’s what pre works for!

Joking. Yes pre work does help me get the energy I need to go to the gym but it’s not really healthy. No one should depend on pre work out to get to the gym. It’s a tool, not a necessity. However, pre work out could become part of your routine.

If I was asked “what is the most important thing someone starting to go to the gym could do?” I would say build a routine. By building a routine it’s easier to get in the habit of doing something whatever it is. A routine helps with time management and motivation.

Time management in college is very important. Going to classes, doing homework, sleeping, going to the gym, and getting drunk on the weekends (if legal age) all require time management. The easiest way to fit all these things into a day is to build a routine. For example; wake up early in the morning, cook breakfast, go to class, go to the gym, eat again, then homework, and go out if ones able to. This is an example of my routine.

Another important aspect building a routine has, is motivation. Humans are creatures of habit. How many people do you know who switch up things up every day? Probably not a lot. Most of us are designed to be on routine. In the working world it helps people stay on track, because they go to the same job, at the same time and come home at the same time. In college there’s a little more freedom than that, and most students don’t necessarily have a routine. A reason for this is because different days have different schedules and classes have different obligations different days.

The best thing someone could do now if they’re serious about being committed to the weight room is to build a routine. Even in the roughest days when it’s hard to get up, that routine is going to help motivated you to do the things you need to do.