Article: You may want to get fit to look better in your clothes, to feel more confident, or to improve your health, but these reasons may not be specific enough to motivate you. Instead of focusing on general reasons, try to come up with something very specific and personal to motivate you to go to the gym. For example, if you have a child, then your motivation might be something like, "I need to go to the gym regularly to be a good example to my son." Or, you could go even further and say something like, "I want to walk my daughter down the aisle on her wedding day, so I am going to the gym today." You can also base your motivation on an upcoming special event. For example, you might say something like, "I want to look amazing at my 10 year high school reunion, so I need to go to the gym today." Having a realistic fitness goal can be a great way to stay motivated to go to the gym regularly. Try setting a SMART goal that you can accomplish by going to the gym. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-based. For example, your goal could be to reduce your 5k time by 2 minutes by the end of the next month. This is a specific goal that is measurable and achievable. It is also something that you will clearly know when you have accomplished it (results-focused) and it has a deadline, so it is also time-based. You could work toward this goal by running a 5k course on the treadmill at your gym 3 times per week. Working out will always seem like an unpleasant chore if you force yourself to do activities that you do not enjoy. Instead, find an activity that you enjoy doing to help make visiting the gym something you look forward to. Try different classes at your gym, such as spinning, step aerobics, kickboxing, and high intensity interval training (HIIT). If you don't like one class, then take a different one. Showing up a little early for class can help you make friends and feel more invested in your workouts. Use different machines, such as the treadmill, step machine, stationary bike, and elliptical walker. If your gym has a circuit training station, try it out to see if you like it. Taking some time to chat with the trainers and regulars at your gym is a good way to make going to the gym a more pleasant experience. It will also help to keep you accountable because if you stop showing up, people will notice. Try saying "hi" to the trainers and regulars you encounter each time you visit the gym. After a few visits, you might want to introduce yourself to the trainers and regulars. For example, if you encounter a regular or trainer on your way into the gym, say something like, "Hi! My name is Chris. I don't really feel like being here today, but I am here! How are you doing today?" You may also consider getting an accountability buddy. This can be someone you meet at the gym or a friend who also needs help sticking to their gym visits. Send each other texts throughout the week each time you go to the gym, or plan to meet the person at the gym a few times each week.

What is a summary?
Think about your biggest motivation to go to the gym. Set goals for yourself. Participate in exercise routines and classes that you enjoy. Get to know the trainers and regulars at your gym.