What to Do When You’re In a Training Funk
By Coach Elise Perez
When training is a regular part of your life, and has been for a while, you’re going to experience times where you don’t feel as “motivated” or “into it.” We call this a “training funk.”
When you’re in a training funk, you don’t really feel excited about anything (not even your favorite lift), and it’s a real struggle to show up.
If you’re currently in a training funk season, or for when the next one rolls through, here are some tips on how to pull yourself out of it!
Just go
Showing up is the hardest part when you’re in a funk. So our first tip is to just go. Is running your thing? Lace up those shoes and step outside. Struggling to make yourself drive to the gym? Go, put your things down and start your warm-up. If you’re still not feeling it after 10 minutes, leave. At least you did something. But chances are, once you’re actually there, you’ll be more inclined to stay and see it through.
Do less
Training funks can be random, but they can also be a result of something else. Boredom, lack of recovery, feeling discouraged or sad. It happens to all of us. Try still showing up, but doing less. Purposefully lift less weight, or complete less sets (lowering total training volume), take more breaks, or perform movements that are low impact (lowering intensity). Maybe you’ll need to do this for a couple days, or maybe you’ll need to do this for a couple weeks.
The best way to get your mojo back is to keep moving. This may mean moving less or moving slower, but still moving.
Join a group class
Group classes are the best for digging yourself out of a training funk, for several reasons. First, all you have to do is show up (see above) and a coach will take care of the rest. You don’t have to think about how to warm up, what you’re going to do, how many reps, sets. It’s all covered for you.
Working out with other people is also beyond motivating! Everyone has shown up for themselves and to get closer to their own goals. If you think you’re the only one who doesn’t feel like being there, think again! But there you all are. Working out and performing the same movements alongside others can also be a surefire way to get you going again. And most notably, seeing gym friends and getting social interaction cannot be beat.
Training funks are normal. But don’t let yourself stop or quit when they come around. Show up to where you train, keep it moving, even if it’s less. And if you’re looking to get into group classes with a solid training program & coaching that will keep you in it (even through all your funks), we’d love to have you join the Brazen team!
Sign up for a free trial class here!
Hope to see you at the gym.
