3 self-help tools to level up your fitness game

A strong workout routine and healthy eating habits are crucial if you want to get in shape and/or lose weight. We all know this, and yet so many of us struggle to meet the fitness goals we set for ourselves. We create the plan and get excited - and then become totally bored and over it in a couple of days. 

Why? Because staying motivated enough to be consistent is hard. It requires mental stamina, patience and a positive attitude. If you’re not used to following through or making big changes for yourself, it feels nearly impossible to overhaul your health and wellness in one big swoop. 

That’s where self-help comes in. 

Adding a few self-help practices and tools to your fitness plan can help you stay the course long enough to see results. Think of it as the safety net surrounding your new healthy lifestyle; if you feel like you’re about to fall off, self-help can catch you. 

Here are a few of my favorite self-help practices that I use to stay mentally strong and keep me on my fitness game. 

Affirmations 

Sometimes it takes us a little convincing to really believe that we can change. And affirmations are a great way to do that. 

When used daily, an affirmation can help rewire your brain into a new state of thinking. It can be the difference between “I’m not someone who works out” and “I love getting a good sweat in.” 

Keep it simple and use just one. You can either find one on Google or Pinterest or write it yourself. Repeat it a few times every morning when you wake up. You could also post it on sticky-notes around your house, set it as a recurring reminder on your phone or make it your desktop background. 

Here are a few examples:

• I am getting stronger and healthier every day. 
• I am healthy and filled with energy. 
• I love and trust my body.

Meditation

Our minds are on autopilot all of the time, and it’s crucial that we give ourselves a minute to slow down and check in. The problem is, when we do this, we tend to zone out with TV or social media, which fills our brains with even more nonsense. 

Think of meditation like a detox for your mind. A practice you can use to clear out the clutter and make room for better, nicer thoughts about yourself. 

Start with a small window like 3-5 minutes. If you need help focusing, use an app like Headspace or find a guided meditation on YouTube. Having a stress-relieving tool like this could be just the boost you need to keep from stress-eating your favorite junk foods when life inevitably gets a little hard. 

Positive Books & Podcasts

So many of us spend all day listening to the news or watching true crime shows. That’s SO bad for your mental health. 

While it’s okay to be informed, try instead to spend the majority of your day listening to positive material. Download Audible and buy a few self-help books on positive thinking or listen to a self-help podcast. Not only will you feel better, but you might even learn a thing or two! 

Here are my favorite self-help books: 

• You Are A Badass
• The Power of Positive Thinking 
• Get Out Of Your Own Way 

Here are my favorite self-help podcasts: 

• Happier With Gretchen Rubin
• The School of Greatness
• The Goal Digger

Adding just even just one of these self-help habits will make you more likely to stick to your fitness goals and see them through.