Growing MENTALLY in the Gym.
When that time arrives where physical well-being become a priority, the gym is a place that many people go with their sites set on growth. What many people don't know, is that you grow mentally in the gym too.
Growth is a part of each of our lives. We grow physically and mentally from the day we are born. On the physical side, our bodies are what carry us from point A to point B, much like a car helps us travel. Also like a car, we want to take care of our bodies to the best of our ability. What many fail to understand, is that our mind is just as important to us as our body, and that it is crucial to continuously grow our mental strength alongside our physical strength.
When that time arrives where physical well-being become a priority, which hopefully happens early, the gym is a place that many people go with their sites set on growth. What many people don't know, is that you can improve your mental strength in the gym too.
In the gym, you grow mentally strong by...
1. Fighting through adversity during a tough workout.
A tough workout can come in many ways; through the reps, the challenge of the exercises, or the day surrounding the workout. Your ability to walk through the doors, especially when you know that workout is going to be tough, builds mental strength because your brain is telling your body, "Nope, we are not going to make an excuse. We are not going to give up on this workout today. We are walking in there, and making it happen."
It's all about peeks and valley's here too. You'll have days that you walk in to the gym and feel the best coming in, which can result in a great workout. You'll also have those tough days. The mental toughness comes from trying to gain just as much out of the tough times as you do the great ones.
2. Planning your workouts.
By planning your workouts, you're building on your ability to push your future self and think ahead. Plus, by planning ahead, you're setting your future self up for success. It's much easier to walk into the gym and be prepared mentally for a workout that you know is coming. If you walk in the doors of the gym without a plan, you're less likely to find exercises that help you reach your goals, to finish your workout, and to have motivation to even start. Help your future self, plan ahead.
If you're not comfortable with this or are afraid you don't know what exercises will help, it's perfectly fine to ask for help. In fact, many professional trainers have someone else build their workouts for them as well, so don't be afraid to ask for a helping hand.
3. Reflecting on each exercise and workout.
The reflection stage of your fitness regimen is just as important as the workout stage. You must reflect on your goals, how each workout and exercise gets you there, and how those workouts are helping you reach them after the fact. By reflecting on each workout, you're strengthening your high-level thinking to an understanding of what each exercise and workout is doing and how they are helping achieve your goals.
This reflection stage allows you to adjust your planning from #2 as well. If you had something planned for a few weeks down the road that isn't showing results, make an adjustment, add something new, or try something different all together.
4. Concentrating your time and energy on the exercise.
Concentrating on your exercises and workouts builds your ability to focus. If you find yourself getting distracted throughout the day, you need to train your mind to focus on one task at a time. The gym is a great place for that, because if you're not focused on each exercise, the likelihood of an injury increases. Don't allow your mind to wonder during your workout.
This goes back to planning ahead. Walk in with a plan of attack for your workout (or consult your trainer for one), a pre-set workout playlist, and the gear you need to get going. If you walk in the door prepared, you can focus on the workout and build that muscle for the rest of your life outside the gym.