Welp! Ready or not, 2019 is officially here! Just like everyone else, I have some fitness goals I’d like to achieve and fine-tune this year–and I’m guessing you do as well! I love this time of year and really look forward to hitting the reset button. 

The end of the year–November and December in particular–are always really busy for me, and the first thing that I let go is my workouts when I don’t have enough hours in the day.

I know that most people will tell you that letting your workouts fall by the wayside is a terrible thing and that you should always prioritize getting to the gym–but honestly, something’s gotta give–and I truly just didn’t have any other way to find more hours in the day. For me, allowing myself to get enough sleep and enough time to relax and give my brain a break is more important mentally than working out. I don’t regret it–it’s what’s necessary for me to do sometimes in the super crazy seasons, and being OK with not being able to workout rather than beating myself up about it was much better for my personal sanity. (So, if you’re in the same boat–stop feeling guilty about it!) 

However, that crazy period of life has passed (whew!) and I’m looking forward to getting into a routine again. However, that’s not to say that I actually LIKE working out. I don’t. ?But I LOVE the way I feel and look when I work out regularly, and it’s always going to be a priority for me to strive for a good workout/life balance. But I still need motivation to kick my butt in gear ?

Do you feel that way too? If you’re also lacking motivation, here are the three tips that have made the BIGGEST difference in my fitness motivation, accomplishing my fitness goals, and helped to make working out a bigger part of my life: 

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Schedule your workouts

I’ve found that when I’ve taken the time to sit down on a Monday morning and schedule when I’m going to work out–I stick to it much better.

I actually go through the Orangetheory and CorePower schedules and figure out which classes fit in best with my days, and I literally create meetings titled “Yoga” or “OTF” on my calendar. I also set a 30 minute “meeting” right beforehand that is labeled “get ready for yoga” so I don’t skip a workout simply because I didn’t have enough time to get ready and get there on time. 

For whatever reason, this little trick really helps my mindset and makes it harder to say, “oh, I’ll just catch the later class…” even though I know it will never happen! Also, if you’re one of those people who likes to work out in the morning but can never drag yourself out of bed, I HIGHLY recommend the app “Kiwake”–it’s an alarm that is impossible to snooze–it will definitely ensure you make it to that 7am workout class! 

Get cuter workout clothes! 

SERIOUSLY. Call me ridiculous but this WORKS, you guys.

When I look forward to putting on a cute workout outfit, I look forward to working out in general a whole lot more. I think the difference between wearing a schleppy old college t-shirt to work out and a cute, put-together workout outfit results in a huge shift in anyone’s attitude–especially mine! It’s the same principle that applies to getting dressed for anything, really. If you look crappy, you feel crappy, so personally, I think it’s really important to invest in some good workout outfits that you feel really confident in! 

Good news on that front: The three activewear essentials I’m wearing in this post are all on sale right now at Lord & Taylor as part of their “New Year, New You” up to 40% off activewear sale! Definitely give it a look to see if anything marked down catches your eye. Now is a perfect time to invest in those staples I just mentioned.

Here are my faves: 

Tie-front workout tank: $22.95 with code NEWYEAR! 

I absolutely love this tank! It’s so soft and lightweight–most of my workouts either consist of Orangetheory or hot yoga, so the lighter the fabric, the better, because I’m a baby and overheat very easily ?It’s such a cute top and you really can’t beat the price! (I also love this simple workout tank that is also on sale! You can never have too many white or black workout tops!) 

Black workout leggings: $57.80 with code NEWYEAR! 

I don’t think you can own too many pairs of black workout leggings, right!? They are always my workout staple of choice. I love this pair for many reasons–one being the price, another being how thick they are. They hold you in in all the right places (so they’re ideal for higher impact workouts) and there’s no show-through! (This pair is the same brand and also cute if you like a little more zazz!) 

Cropped hoodie: On sale for less than $20! 

I love cute hoodie that I can throw on after a workout and wear to brunch or run errands. This one comes in so many colors, I loved the cropped element and the velvet coated drawstring! So much cuter than a regular old sweatshirt! Plus, it’s less than $20!

It also comes in so many colors–I really wanted the dusty lilac color but it was sold out when I placed my order–now it’s re-stocked though, so somebody has to order it and send me a photo so I can live vicariously through you ?

It’s made by the brand ASKYA which I hadn’t heard of before–but definitely want to try more of their items! I also love this furry faux sherpa half-zip that is on sale for only $30! This cropped mock-neck for $27 is also super cute. Also, right now, ASKYA sports bras are on crazy sale–starting at $10! 

Join a studio to foster community + make friends: 

Don’t get me wrong, there are some great at-home workouts that work really well for a lot of people, but they just aren’t something I’m able to stick with long-term. (I still do them sometimes too when I’m in a pinch! I wrote about my two favorites here!) but I don’t have enough willpower to push myself nearly as much as I will push myself in a studio setting. I’m just not that kind of person. (Which is why joining regular gyms has never worked for me.) 

I belong to two studios:

Orangetheory and Corepower yoga–and I absolutely love both of them. Is this expensive? Yes. But I get a hell of a lot more out of belonging to these two than I EVER would paying for a gym membership that results in me literally pouring money down the drain. (Honestly, I just don’t push myself working out on my own in a gym, nor see nearly the type of results I do at these two studios). I wrote a HUGE Orangetheory fitness review and results post right here because I get so many questions.

I do Orangetheory for the aesthetic benefits–meaning, I have NEVER seen changes in my body like the ones I’ve seen from Orangetheory. Period, the end. If you’re serious about getting into shape, I wholeheartedly believe there is no other workout at ANY gym that is going to get you the results that OTF does. 

On the flipside, I do yoga at Corepower for fun, for the mental benefits of yoga, and because it’s an excellent low-impact workout (and lot’s of stretching) that perfectly compliments OTF. I do C2 (hot power yoga) classes exclusively. 

Aside from the results that come along with studio memberships, I think the community that comes along with belonging to a studio is one of the biggest draws to get my butt in the door. And I don’t mean this in the sense that you should always have a workout buddy to keep you accountable, but having a few friendly faces at your studio can make a big difference!

When I make friends with my yoga instructors, or I can count on my Orangetheory Trainers to DM me on Instagram like, “Ummm where have you been ?” it’s a whole new draw to working out. When you have a community to look forward to (or you know people will notice when you aren’t there) it helps keep you accountable, not to mention, really gives you something to look forward to! So, if you’ve been on the fence about joining a studio vs a gym (is it worth the money? Will you stick to it?) consider this me giving you that extra push. I really don’t think you’ll regret it! 

We did one GG reader meet up at Orangetheory in 2018–it was SO fun and such a great way to meet new friends–I’m definitely planning to do more fitness related meet-ups in 2019, so make sure you’re following me on Instagram, because that’s where I’ll be posting about upcoming opportunities! 

I hope these tips help you as much as they help me! Oh, and…

Shop more on-sale athletic wear favorites below! 

What are your workout motivation tips? What has been most impactful for you?

Thanks to Lord & Taylor and Shopstyle for sponsoring this post! All opinions are 100% my own!