Tips for motivating yourself to follow through on your gym membership

empty gym in black and white

You joined the gym with the best intentions early this year.

The New Year’s resolution to get in shape, the vision of the beach body you’ve always wanted…

You were ready to crush it!

But fast forward to June 2024, the motivation faded.

Suddenly your schedule is too busy or you need to be more energized after work.

We’ve all been there and that’s why this article is for you.

Get in the right mindset
  • Start small and build up slowly

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the thought of a full-hour workout.

Use a 15-minute rule and commit to just 15 minutes of exercise.

This can help overcome the mental barrier of “I don’t have time for the gym today.”

Once you complete the first 15 minutes, you’re likely to feel motivated to continue for longer.

  • Set clear and realistic goals

Figure out why you want to go to the gym and set specific and realistic goals to work towards.

Maybe you want to lose 5 kg in 3 months or build enough strength to do 10 pushups.

Whatever it is, having a goal and tracking your progress towards it can enhance your motivation.

Celebrate small wins along the way.

Helpful tips to encourage yourself to go to the gym
  • Dress for a workout, even if you’re not feeling up to it
woman and sports bra and leggings

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Put on your gym clothes and sneakers as soon as you leave work.

You will likely feel more in the mood to work out and clock in that session.

  • Get a workout partner to keep you accountable

Find a friend with similar goals and arrange to meet a group at the gym.

You will be more inclined to show up so you don’t leave them waiting, and you can spur each other on during your workout.

If you can’t find a real-life partner, consider hiring a personal trainer (though that will mean forking out more $$$).

  • Reward yourself for going to the gym

Set small rewards along the way to stay motivated, like treating yourself to a healthy smoothie after every 3 visits to the gym or a massage after hitting 10 visits.

Having these rewards to work towards will make you want to keep going back.

  • Proper nutrition and rest are essential for workout motivation

Eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep every night will fuel your motivation.

When your body feels good, you will be eager to get to the gym and make the most of your workout.

Staying in shape and building strength requires commitment, so do what you can to help set yourself up for success.

Now, we hope you have no excuse not to get to the gym anymore! Start by setting realistic goals and tracking progress. Reward yourself for hitting milestones. Find an accountability partner to help keep you motivated. And once the routine is in, those endorphins will get flowing and you will be excited to keep at it. So put on your favorite shoes/outfit, grab your water bottle, and go get the body you want!

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Should you renew your gym membership or is your money just going down the drain?

woman-using-dumbbells

It’s been two weeks since we’ve leaped into the new year, how’s it going?

2023 has come and gone, but your gym membership’s still chugging along.

You’ve been faithfully making payments every month but when was the last time you even stepped into that place?

Maybe it’s time to face it—that gym membership of yours is just sucking money from your wallet for nothing. Your workout clothes have more dust than sweat and your gym bag becomes storage space for random stuff…

Should I go on?

Assessing the value you’re getting
  • The facilities are run down

The gym’s equipment and facilities were state-of-the-art when you first joined but now everything’s looking rather outdated and run down. If the machines are frequently out of order and the changing/shower rooms have seen better days, it may be worth finding a gym with higher standards.

  • The trainers and classes are not worth the fees

You’re paying premium rates for guidance from professionals but the instructors seem lackluster and unmotivated. And the fitness classes you were excited to try end up being repetitive and unchallenging. For the price you’re paying, you deserve coaches and sessions that push you to improve your skills and fitness.

Lifestyle and convenience factors
  • No motivation

Every new month, you tell yourself you’re going to go three times a week (minimum). But after a few visits, your motivation goes AWOL and you end up canceling more classes than attending. Unless you’re prepared to commit to a serious fitness overhaul, your money is better spent elsewhere.

  • Location and accessibility

If your gym is located at some ulu place that takes forever to get to, you probably not going so often, right? Unless you stay nearby, going to the gym can become a chore already. And if the gym’s operating hours don’t match your schedule, then you’re money-wasting.

Your gym usage patterns
an almost empty gym

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Calculate how much you pay for membership fees each month, then see how many times you went gyming in 2023. If each visit comes out to more than $20, you better wake up your idea.

Some signs you not maximizing your membership:

  • You only go 1-2 times a week but pay for unlimited access. Might as well just pay per entry, yeah?
  • You keep missing or skipping weeks, so your cost per visit is super ex. If this is you, why not switch to a cheaper plan or quit altogether?
  • You find yourself going during off-peak hours all the time to avoid the crowd. Then why are you paying so much for peak-hour membership?
Financial implications

Your budget’s tight like a drum but still paying fixed gym fees every month? Hidden costs like parking fees, nutrition products, or personal training sessions also start adding up, and before you know it, your bank account numbers are dwindling. Think carefully if the additional expenses are still worth it or not.

At the end of the day, only you can weigh the pros and cons. If there are more cons than pros and the fees are too demanding for your financials, then consider canceling. But if membership is still somewhat useful, try talking to the gym staff, maybe can get a better deal or temporarily freeze your membership first before canceling outright. Every dollar counts!

You think paying a gym membership fee every month will motivate you to workout more often, but let’s face it, you would rather create a mountain of excuses and binge-watch Netflix at home. How long have you not stepped into the gym? The gym staff has probably already forgotten what you look like and vice versa. All the motivation and intention to get fit disappear like your money into the gym’s bank account. Time to wake up your idea and stop throwing away your hard-earned cash for nothing. Use that money for better things or save up for your next holiday instead! No point paying for something you don’t use, isn’t it? Cancel that membership before the next billing cycle starts. And not tomorrow, but now.

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Places To Find The Cheapest Gym Memberships In Singapore

Singapore is no stranger to expensive fitness center costs! And let us face it, most of you will not even use your membership perks to its fullest! With gym membership fees shooting up to S$2000 per year, one may wonder where the best rates are.

Fortunately for you, this list has you covered!

1. GYMM BOXX

GYMM BOXX is every gym-junkie’s dream as it has a wide array of premium equipment, a helpful staff, and a clean environment. What makes this place stand out is its “popular gym chain” facilities at affordable membership rates.

The standard membership rates are as follows:

a. Senior Membership ranges from S$90-240
b. Youth Membership ranges from S$120-360
c. Standard Membership ranges from S$150-480

If you do not want to commit just yet, you can pay per every entry for as low as S$3!

2. ACTIVESG GYM

Known for offering individuals and communities with various lifestyle opportunities, ActiveSG promotes better living through sport. It is only necessary that they include gymnasiums to their repertoire. If you are able to wait for your turn and workout with the basic equipments then, this place is suitable for you.

Here are the rates of the MyActiveGYM scheme:

a. Adults (Off-Peak) S$15/month
b. Adults (Peak) S$30/month
c. Seniors and Students (Off-Peak) S$9/month
d. Seniors and Students (Peak) S$18/month

As an ActiveSG member under the MyActiveGYM scheme, you will be able to get unlimited gym access to all the ActiveGYM outlets islandwide.

3. YOUR WORKPLACE

If you are serious about getting in shape, consider looking for an employer or a company that offers gym memberships. For example, Siemens has their own gym at the Siemens Centre Singapore. It is adjacent to a lounge where employees can read newspapers or magazines and listen to relaxing music.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)

Nothing beats a workout that is FREE and is situated at your own convenience!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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