How to Motivate Yourself to Train During Summer

There are two kinds of people when it comes to summer - the ones who are more motivated to train, and the ones who can’t think of anything worse than working out in the heat.

Thanks to the sunshine and rising temperatures, some of us get a spike of motivation, whether it’s because of our desire to look our best on a beach in a few weeks’ time, or simply to spend more time outdoors enjoying the beautiful weather. But what about those of us who simply lose their motivation? They get hit with a wave of lethargy and would rather be seen in a bikini/swim shorts rather than their gym kit when the sun shows up.

If you fit the latter description, here are some points you might want to consider to help you get that motivation back:

Sleep

Don’t underestimate its importance. Most of us know how crucial a good night’s sleep is, yet it’s still something that’s widely neglected and waking up feeling tired is never going to give you the best chance of making it to the gym. There’s the usual advice that most of us are familiar with, such as getting off our phones at least an hour before bedtime and limiting caffeinated food and drinks, but in summer, room temperature can also be a sleep-preventing factor. If you’re finding it too hot to sleep, try opening a window or investing in a fan to get some cool air circulating.

Colourful Clothes

Colour psychology is a thing and studies have looked into the impact of colour on various behaviours, including our moods. The findings have been used to influence all kinds of businesses; such as restaurants using lighting that can influence appetite. This can be applied to your workout kit - selecting brighter, colourful clothes to workout in, may make you feel happier and more likely to put them on and get sweating! Any excuse for a sportswear shopping trip…

Workout Timings

If you’re no stranger to a regular training routine, you’ll probably know when your prime time to train is. In summer, you might find you need to change your workout timings slightly. It might be best to train early in the morning, or later in the evening when it’s cooler, as temperatures are often highest in the middle of the day.

Varied Workouts

Unless you’re training for a particular sport or event, it might be worth changing your training routine to keep you interested. Swimming is a great way of cooling down, it’s low-impact on your joints and a great form of cardio (check out our swim session posts, here). If you’d rather be outside, try going for a run, but make sure you stay hydrated. And, if you’d like to spend more time being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful weather, swap those longer indoor gym sessions for a short and effective HIIT workout instead, either at home or at your gym.

I hope these tips help you to stay cool and keep training! Feel free to share any tips that you find helpful when it comes to motivating yourself to keep fit in summer.

This article was written by Lauren Hunter, personal trainer and health and fitness blogger. For more from Lauren, head to her Instagram, or check out her blog.