How to Stay Active & Find Motivation When Working Out At Home

How I stay motivated when working out at home, how to maintain a consistent workout routine, & my favorite online platforms for low-impact home workouts!

I feel really grateful that I’ve established a solid at-home workout routine prior to this whole social distancing thing. It can be really tricky trying to navigate all that’s going on in the world right now…working out might be the last thing on your mind. And let me just preface that by saying, that is OKAY! For many, myself included, working out at home can be a really good release & coping mechanism. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of making time for consistent movement, not only to benefit the way my body feels, but to also assist my mental state of being. So if you’re looking for a little motivation to get your body moving, are stuck in a rut, or are just looking for something new, this post is for you!

Why is moving your body so important right now?

Moving your body, no matter what that means to you…it can be going for a walk around the neighborhood, lifting some light weights, stretching, crossfit, yoga, running, etc…is crucial for our mental health right now! Making time to work out is an excellent way to show up for ourselves & a way to practice self-care. And right now, amidst all of this uncertainty, it’s SO important that we make time to take care of ourselves. I know I make a conscious effort every day to try to make time to move my body. Why? Because it makes me feel so good, so accomplished, & puts my mind at ease.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been seeing quite a few people feeling a little lost or unmotivated when it comes time to working out at home or be in charge of their own workouts for a change. It’s okay to miss your routine but it’s also okay to adapt & to really make an effort to show up for yourself in the way of working out, breaking a sweat, or simply just moving your body.

And believe me, I get it. Not all of us may be in the mood to do a full on sweat session, I know I’m not! I gave up high intensity workouts the second I stopped playing college basketball. I solely do low-impact workouts, & let me tell you, they are just as effective, if not more! Because they’ve become something I actually look forward to, instead of dread!

How to create a good workout routine…

Actually enjoying the movement that you’re taking part in is so crucial for maintaining a solid workout routine. And like I already mentioned, that routine is going to look a little different for everyone. Just because your best friend loves to run on the treadmill doesn’t mean you have to as well! Just getting outside, going for a walk around the neighborhood, & having the sun shine down on your face, might be your “workout” for the day & you know what? That works too!

For many of us, our days are a little all over the place. To stay consistent, dedicate some time in the morning, afternoon, or evening, whatever you prefer, & make time to move your body. I personally prefer working out at night, so usually around 7-7:30pm I get on my mat & do 30-40 minutes of mindful movement..usually a Melissa Wood Health flow & some of my own yoga!

Being consistent is so important, because that’s how you’re able to develop really great habits. You never know, you could develop a really great habit within the next few weeks that might stick with you for the rest of 2020! Also, just showing up for yourself in a consistent way will do wonders for you self-esteem & mood. So often, we make promises to ourselves that we ultimately don’t keep, so if you promise yourself that you’re going to make time to workout, hold yourself accountable to that promise you made – I swear you’ll notice a difference, just doing that!

How to stay motivated…

I stay motivated to move my body because I instantly can feel the difference when I don’t. As many can probably relate, there’s plenty of days where I don’t workout…every day is different, but some days it just doesn’t happen! But instead of beating myself up about it, I make more of an effort the next day! And when I do make it to my mat, wow, I can 100% notice a huge difference in the way I feel & the way I can show up for myself & others, after I do so.

Another way that I’m able to keep myself motivated to workout at home is by wearing something cute to work out in…can anyone relate? I swear, what a difference maker it is to really feel good about the movement that you’re doing, being really comfortable/supported, & wearing a cute matching workout set, all at the same time! It’s like adding a little mascara – it really does work wonders! I’m currently obsessed with this Wanderlust Knit Top & Tights set from adidas. Also, can we just take a moment to appreciate the color as well?! The blue is a little different for me, but I’m obsessed with it & the way the set fits!

And finally, I only do what I enjoy because working out at home will do you no good if you’re not truly enjoying the movement you’re taking part in. To help, I wanted to share 5 amazing online platforms full of incredible resources that might assist you in making the most out of your at-home workout routine, especially if you enjoy low-impact workouts, like myself! I don’t utilize all five of them at once, but I have done them all over the past few years! I currently do a blend of Melissa Wood Health & my own yoga flows, & that’s what is currently working really well for me right now. But they all come highly recommended by yours truly!

5 Online Platforms to Utilize When Working Out At Home

1. Melissa Wood Health

If you follow me on IG, you probably already know I love Melissa’s method. Her workouts consist of low-impact, mindful movement & have completely changed the game for me. Once I really dove into her workouts, I’ve never felt more comfortable with where my body is & my overall mindset regarding working out. Working out for me, is no longer considered a chore, since starting Melissa’s workouts – it’s enjoyable & necessary, not only for my body, but also for my mind & the overall way I feel!

You can find Melissa’s workouts here!

2. ALO Moves

ALO Moves is something that I’ve recently learned about/tried within the month & I’m really impressed! I was able to sign up for their free 2-week trial & had access to an abundance of yoga flows at all levels. I really enjoyed taking the different classes they offered, especially because I enjoy practicing yoga so much. For all my fellow yogis out there, I highly recommend!

You can sign up for the 2-week ALO Moves trial here!

3. Yoga with Adriene

If you’re unfamiliar, Yoga with Adriene is THE BEST yoga resource on the internet today. Hands down. Her approach towards teaching is so calming, beautiful, motivating, & kind. I truly feel confident recommending her videos to anyone even remotely interested in yoga, learning to do yoga, or even if you already have an established practice. The fact that she has over 7 million subscribers on YouTube should speak for itself! She has a practice for everyone, no matter what age, no matter what you’re going through in life, Adriene has something for you! Be sure to check out 10 of my favorite Yoga with Adriene flows here!

You can find Yoga with Adriene here!

4. Ballet Beautiful

I started doing Mary Helen Bowers Ballet Beautiful workouts when I was in Sweden, & I instantly became obsessed! And don’t let the name fool you! Even though her workouts are ballet technique focused (no, you don’t have to be a dancer), they are TOUGH! Mary Helen is a professional ballerina & was also Natalie Portman’s trainer for her performance in The Black Swan. Bowers just exudes grace & her technique is just incredible! If you do have a dance background, this might be something fun to try!

You can find Ballet Beautiful here!

5. Action Jacquelyn

I used to do Action Jacquelyn’s barre workouts on YouTube a few years ago! They were great & a really nice option for maintaining your barre practice at home, especially if you go to Pure Barre & are missing that kind of workout! She has a nice playlist of barre focused exercises on her YouTube channel based on different target areas & most of them don’t require any equipment at all!

You can find Action Jacquelyn Barre Workout Playlist here!

In case you were in need of a little pick me up, or just needed a little inspiration to help revamp your at-home workouts this week, I hope this post was able to give you some new ideas! Moving your body & releasing stagnant energy is really important with everything going on right now, so I encourage you to find a way to move that brings you joy & to make it a daily habit!

Comment your favorite way to move your body below!

Thank you to adidas for sponsoring this post.