With the New Year upon us slowly turning into just another year, every single day becomes the perfect time to reflect and think about what is keeping you motivated. Because if you can truly understand those motivations, then they will continue to push you even when life gets in the way. Motivation doesn’t just ignite without you creating the flame. And you have to create that flame day after day after day, even when you don’t feel like it.
Eating well and working out is hard compared to other alternatives. It’s hard to plan your meals, it’s hard to prep them, it’s hard to get to the gym, it’s even harder to workout. It’s easy to go through a drive-thru, to sit on the couch, to make excuses and to do it all over the next day. Which turns into the next then the next. And it’s even easier to do all this when life is full of kids, or a sick parents, or a car that is in the shop or grandparents living with you, or an illness, or whatever else may be in your life at the time. With all the different things that life throws our way, it’s easy to lose motivation, to lose sight on our goals, and to lose the excitement we once had.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, as long as you’re willing to constantly reflect and remind yourself why you were once motivated. For me, I was finally fed up 7 years ago and wanted to be happy in my own skin. I wanted the outside to represent how I felt on the inside. I wanted to wake up every day with a purpose, with a goal, and with a plan to accomplish everything I had envisioned for myself. And I’ve done that, every single day. I never lose my motivation because I constantly remind myself that something that comes easily probably isn’t worth having. You know what my daily motivation is? Being the best version of myself. I want to be proud of the person who I see in the mirror every day. And over the past 7 years, I never let that motivation die out. I’m constantly igniting that flame.
And Nordstrom helps that motivation with affordable activewear and some of the cutest sneakers around. I can have all the motivation in the world but if I don’t feel good in what I’m wearing, that motivation isn’t quite as strong. And I’m serious about that. If I put on an outfit that doesn’t make me feel my best before I leave for the gym, I change into something that makes me feel more confident. If you have confidence in what you’re wearing, that confidence will transfer over into your workout. So today I’m sharing some of my favorite leggings and sneakers that get me excited for the gym and even more motivated to become my best self in 2018. And hopefully some of these Nordstrom looks will help you find your own motivation through 2018, even when life gets in the way.
My Favorite Black Leggings Right Now
Sneakers That Motivate Me At The Moment
Shop My Look
{ My Sizes: Crop Top – Small | Leggings – XS | Sneakers – I went down 1 full size }
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This post is brought to you by Nordstrom. It contains some affiliate links and I may be compensated for this post, but all opinions are my own. This compensation helps with expenses to keep this blog up and running! Thank you for all your support!
You motivate me 🙂
you’re the best, christina! xoxo
A little disappointed that I thought this was going to be a serious and personal post but it turned out to just be an ad
why can’t it be both? nordstrom came to me to help promote their activewear and i had full control of what i shared. activewear to me is motivation in itself so i shared that throughout my post. it’s just like how i worked with whole foods last week to promote their paleo products. i shared a free recipe while promoting whole foods and the products they offer. it’s exactly the same thing, but you didn’t express any upset over that recipe. this blog takes a lot of work and a lot of money to keep free to the public which is why it’s so helpful to get to work with companies that i already use in the first place. just think about that, macy. i’m not trying to be rude, just trying to explain why partnerships are so helpful for both me and my readers! hope that explains things a little better!
I have been thinking about this post all day today. Motivation is fleeting and if we only do things when we are motivated and no other times, then I personally think that those motivated times will come to us less. We have to remind ourselves everyday so that we can be dedicated to our routines and schedules that get us to our goals no matter what curve balls life throws our way. Some days I don’t feel like getting up a 5:10 AM to go to the gym and get there at 6 and then get to my desk by a 7:45 AM every week M-F. I work to remind myself how lucky I am to be able to get to the gym and stick to my routine and keep getting fitter. Not everyone has that luxury for all kinds of reasons. I love to look back in my notebook at all the workouts I have logged and all the improvements I have made. Finding joy in my every day routine and knowing how much better I feel and how much better I will feel in the future keep me going.
i think keeping a notebook can be so incredibly inspiring! i use to do that when i first started and loved seeing my numbers, times and weights change! keep working hard, elena!!
My motivation, especially this year, are some incredible fitness related opportunities! Biking Sedona, Biking 100 miles in Moab on the White Rime Trail, running the Ragnar trail relay in Aspen, mountain biking Telluride and Crested Butte and some killer backpacking trips! Those are the things that currently push me through the grueling but fun training workouts! Your podcast, workout ideas, and easy recipes also keep me motivated!
With that long winded comment…I’m really wanting to start a blog that I can share all of these adventures, the GF goodness I find along the way! What would you say is the best blog site to use as a total beginner and how do you get it out there? Facebook, IG, Snapchat, other?
those all sound awesome!! aspen and crested butte are so incredibly beautiful! and i have loved having my blog through wordpress and i think instagram is a great way to get the word out there!
Hey Juli,
I’m not sure if you have a separate post about this, but do you have a favorite sneaker/brand that you love to do the bulk of your workouts in?
Thank you!
Jodi
oh man, i don’t have a specific one. i love my adidas ultra boots sneakers because they are insanely comfortable but i also love nike metcons and flyknit running shoes, too!
Wow, I have found this so motivational. I need to get up off that couch. As a full time working mum I find it difficult to get the time to exercise but reading this has given me some ideas – I am going to offer to lead my daughter in her riding lessons, running around an arena for 45mins will be a good start. Thank you for the inspiration.
that would be awesome!! and even more time to connect with your daughter! life is all about moving and enjoy those little moments!! so glad i could help motivate in some small way!
gorgeous leggings!!
Yo JB, those kicks are dope. Looking strong, woman!
I love this post!! Thanks for always keeping us inspired !!
XO
Lauren