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Some days when you hit the gym, it feels like nothing’s going right, you’re moving slowly and finishing your workout feels impossible. It happens to the best of us, but the way we handle those moments can make a big difference. Do you tell yourself that you’re a failure or that you’re weak? Or do you try to boost yourself with words of encouragement?
Many of us struggle with positive affirmations, but according to sports psychologist Dr. Josephine Perry, adopting this kind of self-talk could be the key to maximizing progress at the gym. She says the way we talk to ourselves is “incredibly important,” because if you speak negatively to yourself for months and months, you’ll really start to believe it and feel worse about yourself. Some negative self-talk can be helpful - like telling yourself you didn’t work hard enough on a day you actually didn’t - and it can make you work harder in the future.
But if you tell yourself that you’re a failure, that’s definitely not helpful, so you should try to reframe that to telling yourself that you’re proud of the fact that you tried. Perry says that adding more positive feedback at the gym can also make exercise more enjoyable. She explains that there are two main types of positive self-talk:
- Motivational self-talk - This is when you’re focusing on why you’re working out and Perry says it’s most effective when there’s “a bit of emotion in it.” You can use it to remind yourself of why it’s important to keep pushing hard to reach your goals.
- Instructional self-talk - This is when you’re telling yourself how to do things, like keeping your shoulders back or whatever it is that makes you better at that move and improve your form. Perry explains that it’s like having a coach on your shoulder, pushing you to work at the highest possible standard for as long as you can, and that it’s very practical and helpful self-talk, especially when you’re getting tired.
Source: Metro
Photo: Getty Images