When you’re at the gym tonight, take a look around, you’ll notice it’s less crowded than last week.  This is when those New Year’s Resolutions that sounded so good at the Office Christmas Party or while over indulging over Christmas Dinner start dieing as the weather gets colder and the snow starts falling. 

     To be fair, it’s a tough season for working out, it’s dark outside when you leave for work in the morning and dark outside when you return home. This is when you have to dig deep and find your motivation.  Finding motivation is difficult because it differs from person to person.  Here are a few suggestions:

Get a workout partner – It’s probably the easiest way to work out regularly.  Having a partner pushes you.  It’s harder to skip a workout when your buddy is waiting for you at the gym.  Esther and I push each other all the time, in the gym, on training runs and during races.  After last year’s brutal Buffalo Marathon, I found out we both wanted to quit at the halfway point.  So why didn’t we?  We didn’t want to let each other down.

Pack your bag the night before – Looking for a pair of shorts or a t-shirt at 5am is a great way to miss a workout.  Pack the bag the night before so it’s ready to go in the morning.  Better yet, take the bag to work with you and go straight to the gym from work if you can.   

Find something you like — Sounds like common sense, but common sense is not a common commodity.  If the treadmill is boring, try something else.  Although Esther and I meet at the gym we don’t always workout together.  Sometimes I’ll lift weights while she takes a Zumba class.  Most gyms post class schedules online, everything from spinning to step to yoga.  Finding something you like, and you’ll keep doing it.

Find Distractions — Create a few workout playlists for your iPod or set up a genius mix.  My iPod has playlists for everything from quick cardio workouts to a marathon.  Many gyms have televisions on their cardio equipment, so you can watch the latest episode of Two and a Half Men or The Biggest Loser, while you ride the stationary bike or run on the treadmill.  You’ll workout for a longer period of time when you’re distracted.  

Set Goals — Has running a half marathon or marathon always been on your bucket list?  Sign up for one.  Many gyms and charitable groups will train you, and you’ll be surrounded by others just like you, who always wanted to but up until now never tried.  Who knows you might like it.