How good would it be if we could just keep hitting goals week after week, getting PBs every time we attempted them. This, unfortunately, is unrealistic and not the case. At some stage, training, illness, injuries, work, cold weather or general life may catch up with you and you will find yourself in a workout rut. Luckily, we got your back and there are a number of ways you can escape this and get back to kicking ass.
Even the most experienced athletes find themselves in a training rut. Here are a few things you can try.
Get outside
The beauty of CrossFit is you can “WOD” anywhere. Sometimes something as simple as getting back to basics and back to nature will help you break out of a rut. There are plenty of workouts designed to be conducted outside, why not try one of the many On the Road WODs from CrossFit.com? Or get a group together and go for a hike or bushwalk.
Find a workout buddy
What’s more motivating knowing that someone is waiting for you at the gym? If you have a gym buddy, they can help keep you accountable, give you advice and encouragement or just guilt you into turning up… I mean, provide friendly motivation to show up to class.
There’s a great chance that there are plenty of other like-minded people like yourself at the gym. Find someone you get along with and start arranging to attend class together. A buddy can help propel you towards your goals and off that plateau you are experiencing, and you can help motivate them too.
Push through the hard times
Everyone will experience hard times and moments of self-doubt when you think you can’t push through or achieve that goal you are striving for. It’s important to remember that there are some things you can’t change and not to stress or focus on the negatives.
Its better to ask yourself what you can change and what you could do better.
A famous quote from Annie Thorisdottir reads “During the hard times, it’s important to focus on the things you can change in that moment instead of what you should have or could have done differently.”
What are the little things right here and now that you could do differently to make something better? If you focus and work on these things, you can help your performance immeasurably.
A good thing to remember is hard times don’t last forever. You are obviously dedicated enough to train and put your effort towards a goal, therefore you know you can achieve amazing things.
When you’re in a training rut, it may help to set a new goal, whether it be your first muscle up or a 100kg deadlift, or even just make it to 3 classes a week. Change the little things and reap the benefits as you go. You got this!