Chill Guide to Staying Motivated Without Forcing It (4 of 4)

Sleep and Stress

You can’t out-train lousy sleep and chronic stress. Sadly, that’s not how our bodies work. Turn the lights down, turn the phone off before bed, and sleep for at least 8 hours most days. Forget about late-night coffee; it’s bad for you. If nights are chaotic, chase consistency, not perfection. Training should reduce stress, not add to it. If life is tough, try a chill routine and vice versa. Who needs more stress in their already stressful lives, right?

Make It Fun

If you hate your plan, your plan won’t last. Pick an activity you enjoy, like boxing, hiking, dancing, or swimming. Mix “effective” with “enjoyable” and you’ll actually show up. Even better, if you can do those things with other people. A training buddy, a Zumba class, a Tai Chi group—all can be sneaky powerful. Someone expects you there, and you don’t want to let them down. It’s as easy as that. Besides, this could also help you find new friends and maybe something more than that. If something is not fun and makes you miserable, you probably won’t last.