As I get older, my body is letting me know that finding time to workout is definitely a necessity. Even though I know I should exercise more often, I still find lots of excuses not to. “I’m too busy” is my most used validation but really it comes down to the fact that I just don’t feel like it.

So how do you workout when you would rather do anything else? I’ll tell you ten ways you can motivate yourself.

How To Workout When You Don’t Feel Like It

1. Make It Fun

The easiest way to stop making excuses about fitness is to do something you actually enjoy.

Don’t commit yourself to an hour everyday on the treadmill if you hate running. Go outdoors and walk or take a class at your local community centre.

If the workout is fun, you will look forward to it and never miss a day.

2. Find a Friend

Exercising with a friend is so much more enjoyable than going at it alone. Plus having a buddy expecting you to show up will hold you accountable. If you are competitive by nature, your workout companion can drive you to push yourself harder than you would if you were solo.

3. Make It Easy

If you frequently struggle to find the motivation to exercise, make it as easy as possible to get it done. Don’t sign up for a gym, where you have to get dressed and actually drive there. Perhaps a workout DVD or following a fitness video at home is more up your alley. You can throw on a pair of sweat pants, an old T-shirt and work up a sweat at whatever time best suits you.

4. Playtime

Play with your kids in the evenings and on weekends either at home or a nearby park. Sports, Tag and even Hide and Seek are all great options. Running around with them will not only expend their energy, it will also help you to burn lots of calories while having a blast with your kids.

5. Include A Workout Into Daily Activities

You can be more active without even thinking about it. Gardening and cleaning actually burn quite a few calories. Added bonus is the inside and outside of your house will look gorgeous if you do both of these regularly.

Walk to nearby places instead of driving to complete errands or to take your kids to school and always use the stairs instead of the elevator.

6. Spend Less Time Doing More

Try shorter High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) sessions instead of hour-long exercise routines. These are usually pretty intense because you have to fit more into less time. I personally love Focus T25 videos for a killer workout. No more “I don’t have time” excuses.

7. Switch It Up

It’s easy to get bored with your workout routine when it has become just that— routine. After doing the same thing week after week, you don’t look forward to it anymore. Mix it up!

Pencil in some time on your calendar and schedule a class you’ve never tried before at your local gym. You will be less likely to back out when the time comes to exercise especially if you have already paid for it.

Go for a bike ride or take a hike with a group. Just don’t do the same thing every single day.

8. Music

Any time you don’t feel like exercising, just crank the volume up on your favourite upbeat tunes. Your toes will be tapping in no time. Dancing burns a ton of calories and is fun! Once you start moving, you might find you’re motivated to workout after all.

9. Listen to Your Body

Aches and pains can definitely deter you from working out. If you suffer from joint or back pain, listen to your body and treat it kindly. Stick to low impact workouts like brisk walks, bike rides or swimming. This can also be helpful when you’ve hit the gym too hard because exercise makes you sore! When you pay attention to your body, you can still include fitness into your day without dreading the effects of it or seriously injuring yourself.

10. Make It A Habit

When you include exercise into your daily routine, it will become a habit with time. We all know that habits are tough to give up. Even on days when you’re not really up to it, you will feel like something is missing and want to workout just so your day feels complete.

Fitting a workout into your day is not always easy but these are ten simple ways that you can get it done even when you don’t feel like it.