It only takes a couple of cold, dark mornings to knock a fitness routine off course. Suddenly the workouts you were doing every week have become occasional at best, your activewear is spending more time in the drawer and "I'll get back into it next week" sounds perfectly reasonable.
With warmer weather on the way, it can be a good time to shake things up. A few small tweaks can be enough. Sometimes changing where you work out, trying something new or giving yourself a few fresh things to look forward to can make it easier to get moving.
The health and wellness range from Kmart can help with the little changes that make a routine feel fresh again: more comfortable workouts, new ways to move and something to help you unwind.
Change Where You Work Out
Sometimes it's not the workout that's the problem. It's the fact that you've been doing it in the exact same place, at the exact same time, in the exact same way for months.
A change of scenery can make even a familiar workout feel new again. That could mean heading outside for a walk, trying a new class or setting up a more dedicated space to exercise at home.
For the moments when leaving the house again feels like too much, cardio equipment can make it easier to fit movement into your day. Treadmills and ellipticals give you the option of getting a session in at home, whether you have half an hour before or after work or want to move while watching your favourite show.
Even a smaller setup can make a difference. A gym mat gives you somewhere to stretch, do floor exercises or work through a quick home session without having to rearrange the entire living room first. Add a few pieces of equipment you'll actually use and that awkward patch of floor will suddenly have a purpose.
Make Getting Ready for Exercise Feel Easier
There's a surprisingly large amount of procrastination that can happen before you even start exercising. You have to find your clothes, locate a clean pair of socks, remember where you left your water bottle and somehow convince yourself that changing out of your pyjamas is worth it.
Having activewear options you actually like can remove some of that friction. Kmart's women's activewear range covers the essentials for everyday workouts, so you can have a few different options in rotation rather than reaching for the same outfit every single time.
It also means you can dress around the workout you're doing. A walk, gym session, home workout or weekend run can all call for slightly different things, and having options means one less excuse to put it off.
The same goes for the little things you might forget. Gym towels are one of the basics that can make your workout bag feel considerably more organised once you've made a habit of bringing one. Keep one packed and ready to go, and there's one less thing to remember when you're heading out the door.
Try a Completely Different Type of Workout
Changing where or when you exercise only goes so far. Sometimes the workout itself needs to be something else entirely.
Boxing is one option for anyone who wants something that feels very different from their usual walk, run or gym session. Having some boxing equipment at home means you can add it into your routine when you feel like changing things up, rather than waiting until you're bored enough to do something about it.
Strength training can work in a similar way. You can build a whole session around it, add a few strength exercises to your existing workouts or use it to break up cardio days throughout the week.
You might even find that you stop thinking about motivation quite so much when you're actually looking forward to what you're doing. A routine with a bit of variety can feel much easier to stick with than doing the same session because you think you're supposed to.
Give Yourself Something to Keep Track Of
There are plenty of people who enjoy exercising a little more when they can see what they've been doing. A fitness tracker or smart watch can give your everyday movement a bit more structure. That might be a proper workout, or it might just be moving more throughout the day. Having your activity in one place can also make everyday movement easier to notice. That walk to the shops, the extra steps you took getting around during the day or the decision to take the stairs can all become part of the bigger picture.
Keeping things simple can work just as well too. Sometimes seeing that you've been moving consistently is enough to give you a reason to keep going.
Think About What Happens After the Workout
Getting motivated to exercise is one thing. Actually feeling ready to get on with the rest of your day afterwards is another.
Building a little more thought into your post-workout routine can make exercise feel like a complete part of your day, rather than something you're trying to squeeze in. That could mean taking a proper shower, changing into something comfortable, spending a few minutes stretching or giving yourself time to wind down before bed.
Small things count here, too. Bamboo towels can slot naturally into the post-workout part of your routine, whether you're showering at home after a session or getting ready for the rest of your day.
And if you're trying to make your overall routine feel more balanced, Kmart's wider health and wellness range also includes recovery, therapy and sleep essentials. Giving some thought to what happens before, during and after a workout can make your whole routine feel more manageable.
Sometimes getting your fitness motivation back is as simple as making your routine feel a little less repetitive. Try a workout you haven't done in ages, switch up where you exercise or finally use that piece of equipment that's been sitting in the corner waiting for its moment.
Kmart's health and wellness selection has plenty to help with those little changes, so you can switch things up without making your routine feel like a whole new life project.
You might even find that when you find it all a bit more interesting, getting off the couch starts to feel much easier.