Did you run out of motivation to train because you couldn't reach your goal, or has training become an obsession because it's impossible to reach your goal? What if you could forget about your goals for a while and just train according to your mood and enjoy your workouts?

A new motivation for exercise

Movement does not always need goals. So how do you motivate yourself to exercise without goals? You can find new motivation to exercise by really focusing on your own well-being. The goal and motivation for exercise can simply be to increase your well-being without getting into the specifics.

Think carefully about which things contribute to your well-being. Does being too strict about a healthy lifestyle cause extra stress? Could you adopt a more relaxed approach to healthy living? What if you tried to exercise according to what feels good at the time?

Move according to your mood

After a long day, we may force ourselves to do some more twitch training, and instead of recovering and relaxing, we add to the stress on our bodies. A resistance workout is great when you really feel like breaking a sweat and getting your heart rate up. However, after a long day, your body may need more gentle exercise or even just a rest.

Moving with style doesn't mean choosing the couch over moving every time, or cancelling a workout with your coach. However, choosing the couch a little more often isn't necessarily a bad idea either. Resting when your body really needs it is always a better option than adding stress by exercising.

If necessary, ask your coach to change the day's workout if your body feels like it needs something different from what you had planned to do. A coach can help you relax as well as train harder.

Listen to the body

Moving with the style means you have to listen more to your body and intuition. Choose a movement based on what your body feels like it needs today, in the moment. If you are always used to moving according to what you have planned in advance or under external pressure, listening to your body's messages can be challenging at first. But gradually, your body's messages become stronger and easier to interpret.

For a moment, forget about measuring and recording your workouts. See how it feels to move according to your mood. When your body asks you to go faster, speed up. When your body asks you to slow down, slow down. Feel free to try new ways of moving and you may find new favourites.

Listening to your body can also be used in eating: eat when you're hungry, focus on eating, and stop when you're full. Don't say no to a treat because reason says you should, or conversely, don't take a treat because it would be rude not to. Think about what you really want. Make your choices in the same way you would in a restaurant: go through what's on offer and choose according to your mood, what you really want and what your body needs.

Ask a professional for help

Feel free to ask a personal trainer for help if you're feeling stressed about exercise or a healthy lifestyle. A personal trainer can help you plan the right rhythm for your daily life so that exercise doesn't add to your stress, but reduces it. You can also work out with a coach to suit your mood. Another good thing about working out with a coach is that you don't have to plan your own workouts, you can just move and enjoy yourself with the coach's encouragement.

According to your mood, exercising and eating can make a big difference: stress is eased when you're not constantly thinking about training or when you're going to eat next. Your body relaxes and even your stuck muscles may disappear. The biggest impact is definitely on your overall well-being. You may also get help with other challenges, such as running full-time, and you may learn to say no to other things more often. Both body and mind will thank you.

Helpful questions for listening to the body

Why do I move?

What kind of movement does your body need right now?

Does your body need movement or rest?

Is now the time to speed up or slow down?

Am I hungry or thirsty?

Am I full or do I keep eating?

Is this good for your body?

Is this good for the mind?

If you feel you have a balance between exercise and a healthy lifestyle, and would like to set goals for your training, contact a personal trainer. A personal trainer can help you set goals and plan a realistic pace to achieve them. Working out with a personal trainer helps keep your motivation high and gives you a better chance of achieving your goals.