You already know how strongly the mind and body are interconnected, and you’ve likely seen more and more research that backs up that connection. 

Yet knowing how much your mindset impacts the quality and results of your workout, and actually lifting your mood after a stressful day of work or a poor night of sleep are two different things. 

The latter is often easier said than done, which is why we wanted to share some of our favorite mindset practices with you this month. These are the go-to tools we use to set the right tone for our workouts before we even begin moving our bodies––and we’re confident they’ll work for you too. 

 

4 Mindset Practices to Help You Set the Right Tone for Your Workout

Use positive affirmations

Affirmations are positive phrases and statements that help your mind and energy shift from a negative space into a more positive, more joyous state. To use them, all you have to do is repeat the phrase or sentence to yourself a few times, either silently or out loud. So simple, and yet so effective at setting the right tone for your workout.

Reciting positive affirmations is also a great way to keep your mind engaged and motivated throughout your workout as well, especially during those challenging moments when you feel like giving up. 

Any kind of positive statement counts as an affirmation, so feel free to write your own or use some of the ones below to get started: 

• When I exercise, I feel good.
• I have all the energy I need to accomplish my goals. 
• I love how I feel after moving my body/working out. 
• I am so grateful for my healthy body that  gets stronger with exercise. 
• Exercising is fun and I’m good at it. 
• My body is fit and healthy. I workout and enjoy it immensely. 
• My body is rested and my mind is calm.I start my day with positive thoughts and energy. 

If you’ve never used this practice before, it might feel a little forced at first. That’s perfectly normal. What’s really cool is that the more you recite your positive affirmations, the more true for you they will become. In the meantime, you can always use “bridge” words and phrases at the beginning of the affirmation to help your mind start to open up the possibility that what the statement is true. “It’s possible…” and “Maybe just maybe…” are great bridge phrases to try. Here’s the affirmations above with bridging: 

• It’s possible I feel good when I exercise
• Maybe just maybe I have all the energy I need to accomplish my goals. 
• It’s possible I love how I feel after moving my body/working out. 
• Maybe just maybe I am so grateful for my healthy body that  gets stronger with exercise. 
• It’s possible exercise is fun and I’m good at it. 
• Maybe just maybe my body is fit and healthy. I workout and enjoy it immensely. 
• It’s possible my body is rested and my mind is calm. Maybe I start my day with positive thoughts and energy. 

Again there’s no wrong way to use bridging, so play around with the affirmation and your bridge until it feels right for you.

Get dressed in colors and clothes you love.

Thinking of throwing on that ratty t-shirt and that pair of Soffe shorts you’ve had since 10th grade? Think again. Because what you wear when you work out definitely impacts your mood. There’s even scientific evidence that certain colors are better mood-boosters for specific workouts.

Getting dressed in clothes you can comfortably move around in without them slipping down or bunching up is only part of it. You also want to make sure to choose a workout outfit you actually like and feel good about wearing. Studies have shown looking good can actually help you go harder and stay more focused as you workout. 

Listen to a great song.

Music is a huge mood booster and has a magical way of almost instantaneously lifting our moods and making us want to move our bodies. So put on a tune you love as you’re getting dressed or heading to your workout spot. 

Practice gratitude. 

Grab a pen and paper and write down three things you're grateful for at this moment. This two-minute practice is quick, easy, and one of the most powerful ways to boost your brain’s production of serotonin and dopamine, the two feel good chemicals in your brain. Expressing thanks––whether it’s for your morning cup of coffee, a great conversation with a friend, or a recent promotion at work––will instantaneously boost your mood and make you feel happier, helping you set the stage for a great workout. 

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What other practices do you use to set the right tone for your workout?