Everyone knows that physical activity is important for mental health, but did you know that the opposite is also true? Your mental health also plays a part in the preparation for your workout at the gym. It can be difficult to find the motivation to workout and do so effectively, consistently and with purpose. This is why mental preparation is just as important as a warm-up before your workout. 

Ensuring that your body is prepared for your next session at the gym is only half the work; the other half is becoming mentally prepared. Many people don’t realise how pertinent your frame of mind is to your workout. Mental preparation doesn’t just involve getting pumped for your workout, but also remembering your purpose for working out as well as gradually developing your mind’s resilience and persistence.

Just like a warm-up, mental preparation takes away a lot of the frustration and pain often brought on by an exercise routine. To give you a better idea of the value of mental preparedness, here are 4 benefits that you will experience.

• Consistent workout routine
• More rigorous training session
• Accomplished fitness goals
• Higher energy levels

Sounds pretty good, right? Now, let’s explore our tips for getting in the mood for your workout.

Listening to music gets you pumped! While we mentioned that this was not the sole part of mental preparation, it certainly is important. Listening to upbeat music before and during your workout doesn’t just get you ready for the workout, but it improves your session as well!

Listening to music increases your stamina and puts you in a better mood. You are more likely to exercise longer and work harder during your session. Listening to music may have this effect because it distracts you from your exertion or the timing of the music has stimulated the motor area of the brain, allowing you to move more efficiently in a self-paced exercise such as running.

Sometimes, you will have off days. With a workout diary,  you can track your meals, the exercises you engaged in as well as your mood. This will allow you to track how you feel according to what you did that day. You may find a correlation between the food you ate and your mood. 

Even if you don’t find a pattern with your mood, recording your workouts can be incredibly motivational. The diary serves as a hard copy of your progress and it can be quite encouraging to see the amount of training you engaged in over a specific period.

Your mental preparation isn’t solely related to your mood; it also involves your mental presence. Digital devices like your phone, tablet or even your smartwatch can be quite distracting and prevent you from giving all of your attention to the workout. 

Before your workout, try not to use any of your devices. Instead, meditate for a few minutes, allowing yourself to revisit your goal for the workout and to rid yourself of the anxieties and distractions of the day.

Workouts are hard, even if you’re used to them. If you had a subpar day, do not allow that to affect your mental preparation for your next workout. Be honest with yourself about your capabilities as well as the realities of working out. You will have difficult days – even professional athletes have them! The sooner you understand this, the better your mental health, both before and after, your workout will be.