Too tired to exercise

[merkel]

You’ve had a long, taxing day at the office and you’re ready to head home and collapse in front of the TV. You promised yourself you’d do a thirty minute workout but feel too exhausted to even think about it. Does this sound like a familiar situation? Two of the most common reasons people give for not working out are lack of time and fatigue. After all, a long day taking care of family or working at the office takes time and energy. Unfortunately, you still need exercise for both fitness and relaxation. What can you do to motivate yourself when you’re too tired to work out?

Too tired to exercise: Have your iron levels checked

If you already exercise and find you’re approaching your daily workout with excessive fatigue and lack of motivation, see your doctor and have your iron level checked. Your doctor can do a blood test called a ferreting level which measures your body’s stores of iron. Aerobic exercise can cause slow depletion of iron levels with iron being lost through sweating and through leakage of small amounts into the gut with sustained movements. Plus, it’s not uncommon for women of child bearing age to be iron deficient. If you’re iron deficient, iron supplementation may make all the difference in your energy levels and your attitude towards exercise.

Too tired to exercise: Exercise when you awaken in the morning

If you feel tired and less motivated to exercise in the evening, try setting your alarm thirty minutes early and get your exercise session out of the way before the day starts. An early morning exercise session can help to energize and motivate you for the rest of the day. Plus, you can look forward to an evening of relaxation knowing you’ve accomplished your goal. This can be a simple solution to the problem of being too tired to work out.

Too tired to exercise: Do it anyway

Sometimes the best cure for fatigue is a vigorous exercise session. Have you ever noticed how you can walk into the health club exhausted but after thirty minutes of motion you feel energized and invigorated? There’s nothing like exercise to get your blood flowing and zap fatigue. If it’s difficult for you to get motivated to make that trip to the club, promise yourself a small reward after you finish your session if you follow through. Just make sure it’s not a jelly donut!

Too tired to exercise: Lighten up your workout

On nights that you’re too tired to work out, follow a lighter, less rigorous routine. To motivate yourself to take the first step, tell yourself you’ll only exercise for ten minutes. After ten minutes have elapsed chances are you’ll feel so invigorated that you’ll want to keep going.

Too tired to exercise: Change your exercise format

If you feel fatigued with a lack of motivation towards exercise on a particular evening, change your workout entirely and substitute something fun. Instead of walking thirty minutes on the treadmill at the club, take your dog for a brisk walk or do thirty minutes of stretches while you watch your favorite T.V. show. You can get back on schedule the next time you exercise and the variety will be good for you both physically and mentally.

Give these tips a try and soon you’ll no longer need the old excuse of being too tired to work out. Plus, you’ll look and feel like a new person.

[PianoManGidley]

I'd also recommend to make sure you're eating enough throughout the day as well. Sometimes, general fatigue throughout a workout is sign of not getting enough calories in your system for the day. Of course, eating the right KINDS of foods here is critical as well.

[Angela]

Or quit your job!

[EnduranceNinja]

I find many times I don't have the energy to workout after work due to not eating enough through out the day too. Or at times if I go home and sit down I get relaxed and then tired. I have to go straight to working out if I want to do it. Also it depends how late you work too. By the time my wife comes home and eats dinner it is late and she wants to spend time with her daughter too. But, I am proud how she manages to go workout at 9 pm still.

[VacMan]

I've noticed that if I get home, and then wait around...

Like if I sit down, and relax, or turn on the TV, or basically take any time to really slow down...

Then it's like quick sand pulling me in, and I get even more tired.

A good trick for me is to go right away to the gym, or on a run/walk/hike/etc.

The shorter the break between work and working out the better for me.

Don't think, just DO!

Kind of like what Steve Pavlina talks about in the "Getting up without the snooze button thing." Just applied to working out instead.