Online training is a fantastic way to build autonomy in your training and set yourself up for sustainable long term health.
You get all the benefits of having a coach but you also get the flexibility of doing your workouts in your own time.
The thing is, if you don't know how to own that autonomy and make the most out of it, it can feel overwhelming.
I remember when I was going through art school and having to pick a topic for my design practice. When you're a designer one of the most gruelling things about the job is designing work for a brief you're not interested in. So being able to design your own brief and do whatever you want sounds great, right? Yeah, it turns out - not so much. This opens up too many possibilities with no boundaries or parameters, so instead of doing a bunch of amazing work, you do no work. The same can apply to training in your own time, even when you have a program and access to a coach.
Here's what you should do.
Build training into your schedule. When you commit to a time to train and hold yourself to it, you're more likely to do it. Block it out in your calendar. Try to make it the same time each day or the same day each week.
Use your coach. Check in with them and communicate with them when you're feeling stuck.
If you miss a workout, get right back on track. Don't throw away the whole week.
Be gentle with yourself. If you're forcing yourself to do your workout every single time and you're not enjoying it, something needs to change. Maybe you need to train at a different time of day, maybe you need to look at your sleep quality, maybe you need to ask for more variation in your training program. Whatever it is, you are in control.
Create a space that is free of clutter. Designate a room or an area in your house or your garden that is for working out. When you step into that space your brain will know it's time to workout.
Do the same warmup every time. Familiarity signals to the body that it's time for training.
Put some music on that gets you energized.
Join a gym or go somewhere different to do your workout if you feel stuck. I have a beautiful studio gym at home, but this week I joined a gym down the street. I needed some social pressure and a change of environment that wasn't home or work. When you're moving your body in a space where other people are also moving, it can be incredibly powerful. You don't have to talk to anyone, but just being there can make you feel more motivated.
Online training is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself. It will put you out of your comfort zone to try something new, but you'll be in the comfort of your own home or a space that feels safe for you.
You'll learn to develop autonomy and accountability in your lifelong fitness journey which will transfer into other areas of your life. It's easy to turn up to a training session with a personal trainer who stands over you and tells you what to do, but to make the decision to work with an online trainer means that you get all of the knowledge and expertise, with the autonomy to build strength into your lifestyle in a way that works for you. Plus you get to take it with you for life.
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