How To Shift Your Mindset When You Feel Like Giving Up

We all go through stages in our life when we have the urge to give up and quit. When you are trying to change something, like your health and fitness habits, it can be really easy to give up when it gets too hard.

Sticking to a regular exercise routine is especially difficult when it's something you may have never done before. It is hard work, may be painful at times and motivation can be hard to find. When you have a bad day, it can be a lot easier to find reasons to skip your workout. 

Don’t let your goals be de-railed! 

Feel like giving up?

Let’s take a look at the six most common reasons for giving up and how you can get yourself back on track.

You don’t have time

This is one of the biggest reasons that I hear for not being able to exercise. The truth is, just like your job and other commitments, exercise is just another one of those things you have to make time for.

However, I know sometimes things get in the way of even the best-made plans. 

When you really don’t have time, the best thing to do is to exercise for a shorter amount of time. A 20-minute walk is much better than nothing, or some of my workouts can take just 15 minutes!

You can make time to exercise by setting an alarm to wake up 20-30 minutes earlier than normal. This gives you enough time for a short workout before your day starts — it WILL be worth it!

You’re don't have the right setup 

You might think you need a lot of equipment to follow a fitness program, but you can work out without acess to a gym. If you can get outdoors, you can walk, bike or run to stay active. Hills and stairs are your best friends for a quick outdoor workout. 

You can also exercise at home and still do effective training sessions. My workouts have specifically been designed for at-home workouts using minimal equipment. All you need is a mat, skipping rope, dumbbells and a chair — but if you don't have any of these you can always substitute items with what you have on hand! 

You’re stuck inside 

Can't leave the house? Get creative and do an at-home workout. 

You can use your own body as resistance and find a space at home to do a quick bodyweight workout. Push-ups, lunges, squats and arm-dips are all great resistance exercises.

If you have enough space, try skipping at home or in the shed. Skipping is an awesome way to get in some cardio at home. 

Walking is an excellent form of LISS cardio — if you can't get out, you can try walking on the spot while watching a favourite TV program. Plus, it's low impact and can help with muscle recovery. 

You feel overwhlemed as a beginner

If you feel overwhelmed about starting your fitness journey, remember we all had to start somewhere. 

If you start your training at home, you can still have a workout buddy who can help and offer you support. You could try training together via video call, or checking in regularly them. It helps to connect with someone who is more experienced, as they can help you feel more confident.  

Most importantly, don't compare yourself and your fitness journey to someone else's — remember that your health and fitness is unique to YOU.

You’re bored with the same routine

Doing the same thing every workout can get repetitive. That’s why I’ve prepared some tips to help you to make your cardio more effective. 

One of the keys to maintaining a workout habit is to find a training style that you enjoy. When you love doing something you are much more likely to show up for every session!

If you feel like you’re in a rut, try some new ways of working out. Mixing up your training is beneficial to both your body and your mind. 

You feel tired and lack energy

A busy week at work or school can drain you of all your energy. We've ALL been there! 

Finding the energy to workout is especially challenging if you are working night shifts. 

If you find that you are consistently low on energy, you might need to create some healthy sleep habits like switching off devices half an hour before bedtime. 

Making some healthy food swaps and keeping healthy snacks on hand can help maintain your energy levels too. 

Even if you don’t feel like you have the energy, show up for your workout. There’s nothing wrong with reducing the intensity — and you might even surprise yourself once you get started!

Set your intention by preparing in advance. Get your workout clothes ready to go — you’ll feel more motivated to put them on and complete the workout! 

These tips can help when you feel like giving up

I hope these tips to overcome the most common reasons for quitting can help to push and motivate you to keep going on your fitness journey. 

If you have any tips to share on how you’ve overcome the urge to give up, please share them in the comments below!