By The Wild Women On Top Team
We know we feel awesome after we've worked out. Our happy hormones are flowing, our blood is pumping, and our energy is high. But getting out of bed early, before the sun is up, isn't always easy. Especially in winter. When it's cold, and dark, and rainy outside. Sometimes, when the alarm goes off, the thought of staying under the sheets for an extra hour or two is extremely tempting...
Our Chief Adventure Chick Di Westaway has got ten great tips that'll make getting out the door and onto the trail a happy ritual to look forward to, not a dreaded task.
Train with your girlfriends
Training on your own can get a little lonely. So instead of heading out on your own, arrange to train with a group of your best girlfriends. When you're laughing, talking, and walking together on the trail, time flies by.
Walking with your girls adds more fun to your fitness regime and it makes cancelling your workout that much harder. You'll make life-long memories, and get fit and strong at the same time.
Get into a routine
Sometimes, you get to the end of the day, and you realise your to-do list is as long as your arm. There are errands to run. Emails to respond to. Phone calls to make. Shopping to be done. When there's so much to do, it can be hard to stick to a fitness regime.
Try getting into a routine where you train early in the morning. So when you get to the end of the day - and you're confronted by a huge to-do list - your health isn't sacrificed. Research shows people who begin their day with exercise are more likely to develop a habit. And witnessing the beauty of the sunrise actually increases the level of serotonin in your body - giving you a free, extra dose of the happiness hormone.
Focus on how moving makes you feel
When you're feeling tired and prepared to ditch your workout to get some more sleep, think about how moving your body makes you feel. Think about how good it feels to have fresh air in your lungs. Think about the happy hormones that will flood your body. Think about feeling the wind in your hair and the morning sun on your face. Think about having an epic start to your day. Getting out of bed is the hardest part. Once you've done that, you've got an amazing adventure ahead of you.
Treat yourself
If seeing the sunrise isn't enough of a daily treat, add some more magic to your morning to help you spring out of bed. After a Trek Training session, arrange to meet a friend for coffee or breakfast afterwards, around where you're walking. Those little rewards can be the push you need.
Have a Big Hairy Audacious goal
Setting yourself a Big Hairy Audacious goal to work towards will help keep you motivated. When your alarm goes off, and you just want to hit the snooze button, think about the next big adventure or challenge you're training for. Get a calendar to put above your bed, or get yourself a diary, and put a huge star on the important date. This will help you visualise your goal and will motivate you to get prepared.
Set mini, achievable goals
Once you've got your Big Hairy Audacious goal decided, set some mini, achievable goals. These mini milestones will help you reach the ultimate goal you've set for yourself. Making progress every week or every month will stop you getting overwhelmed by the final task, and will help keep you positive and focused.
Stay accountable
Don't be afraid to share your goals with the people around you. Tell your friends, your family, your partner, and your colleagues about what you want to achieve and why. Sharing your ambitions with the people closest to you will help keep you accountable, and motivate you to stay on track.
Track your progress and celebrate your wins
Tracking your progress every day, every week, and every month, can do wonders for your motivation and self-esteem. These days, it's easy to track your progress. There are mobile apps and smart watches which measure how many kilometres you've walked or the number of steps you've done. Share your awesome results with your community and celebrate the wins. It'll help keep you focused on reaching your mini milestones and, ultimately, your Big Hairy Audacious goal!
Give back
Fundraising and giving back to others is great for your head, your heart, and the community. Fundraising gives you all the warm and fuzzy feels, making you happier, healthier, and more motivated to achieve your goal. Adding a charity link or cause to your challenge will give you a sense of purpose and you'll have more reasons to follow through with your plan.
Positive attitude
Thoughts can help us, but they can also harm us. So staying positive can help control nasty negative thoughts and self-doubt. As Buddha said, “all that we are is the result of what we have thought". Surround yourself with positive, optimistic people. Believe that you achieve anything you set your mind to. You can climb any mountain. Whether that mountain is physical or metaphorical!
