“That disinclination, that reluctance, that voice that says, 'I don't want to [exercise],' is completely normal and natural,” he says. Physical-activity researcher Matthieu Boisgontier, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, demonstrated that phenomenon in a 2018 study.
Even though exercise can boost our feel-good endorphins, we can still struggle to feel excited about the idea of doing it. Low motivation has been linked to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Reach out to your friends and family.
Maybe you have physical pain that stops you from doing certain things. Maybe you don't feel comfortable showing your body in any way. Maybe the physical side effects of exercise are so uncomfortable that you simply can not push through. Maybe your mental game isn't where it needs to push past discomforts.
Discomfort: Exercise can be physically uncomfortable, and your mind may resist activities that it associates with pain or fatigue. Time Constraints: Busy schedules can lead to the belief that you don't have enough time to work out, even if it's just a short session.
A gym-class embarrassment or unpleasant experience with a youth sports team can make a person avoid working out well into adulthood, Hargreaves says. Sometimes it's also a confidence issue.
Problems with the various body systems involved in movement can lead to exercise intolerance. These include issues with your heart, lungs or muscles. You may not be able to reach the maximum heart rate for someone your age because of your symptoms.
One common reason people lose motivation to exercise is that they don't set themselves up for success with the goals they choose. For example, telling yourself that you want to “exercise more” might not be very effective, since it's hard to know when you reach your goal, which could lead to inaction.
Personal issues such as stress, anxiety, relationship problems, or health issues can affect your motivation. It can be challenging to focus on work when you have personal problems consuming your thoughts and energy.
Whether it's from a negative experience early in life, or simply feeling like they don't fit in with the gym crowd or are too unfit to start; these messages create barriers to people exercising.
Because many health issues can cause these problems, you should examine what else could cause your post-exercise fatigue, such as anxiety, depression, an unhealthy diet, or poor sleep. Some heart and blood pressure drugs, like beta blockers, also can make you feel sluggish and less energetic after exercise.
While practical concerns like a busy schedule or poor health can make exercise more challenging, for most of us, the biggest barriers are mental. Maybe it's a lack of self-confidence that keeps you from taking positive steps, or your motivation quickly flames out, or you get easily discouraged and give up.
The most common ones we typically hear are not enough time/too busy, no motivation, don't like exercise, too old and can't afford the cost. But there are also reasons why people miss a workout or quit exercising altogether.
You might also lack confidence in what you're doing, or struggle to make time for physical activity. If you push too hard, it can hurt. Dr Swann says people often follow the "no pain, no gain" mantra. This assumption that you have to work until it hurts in order for exercise to be productive could stop your momentum.
One of the first signs of dehydration is fatigue, so if you're not drinking enough water, you may feel low on energy no matter what you eat. Having too big a calorie deficit can also cause low energy levels, so make sure you're not eating too little.
Boredom With Your Routine
If you're not excited about your workouts, it's no wonder you're lacking the motivation to workout. Try switching up your routine by trying new exercises, joining a fitness class, or finding a workout buddy to keep things interesting.
Low motivation can be a common symptom of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. You can practice self-help and self-care as much as you can, but you may find that seeking professional help is more helpful for your emotions. Online therapy is beneficial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is it Normal to Not Want to Go to Work? First, it's important to know that feeling unmotivated to go to work is expected from time to time. Stress, burnout, personal problems, or job dissatisfaction can all affect how you as a person feels.
Summary. People who hate exercise may dislike the feeling of exertion or the gym environment. Your genes, biology, and social setting can also factor in. If you're struggling, finding the right type of exercise for you and getting support from others can make a huge difference.
Reasons you might lack workout motivation include: You feel like you don't have enough time. You're not sure what to do for exercise or how to create a workout plan. You're bored with what you've been doing.
It happens when your body's responses to exercise don't achieve age and gender-appropriate levels. It's often associated with heart disease because the heart fails to pump blood properly when exercising but can result from a variety of conditions.
A sedentary or inactive lifestyle.
Being out of shape can manifest in different ways, including: Low cardiovascular endurance, or the ability of your heart and lungs to supply oxygen to your muscles. Decreased muscular strength, or the ability of your muscles to exert force. Limited flexibility, or the range of motion of your joints.
Exercise Is Viewed as Hard
Another reason you may not be motivated to exercise is because you view it as being difficult. You've seen images of people struggling to make it through their workouts and you don't want to have those types of struggles yourself.