13 Hacks That Will Actually Make You Want to Work Out

​Lay out your workout clothes the night before

The key to getting an early morning gym sesh in is to make it as easy as humanely possible to roll out of bed before your brain has time to realise what you're doing. Prep everything you possibly can the night before - your breakfast, your headphones, and crucially, your outfit. Some gym bunnies even swear by sleeping in their workout gear so that they really can just get up and go. It'll feel a little gross at first, but hey, it's going to get sweaty anyway, right?

Set your alarm to a song that makes you want to move…

The cruellest sound in the world is that droning, beeping iPhone alarm, so why are we all still waking up to it every single morning? Switching to your go-to dance jam will make those early starts a little more bearable, putting a spring in your step before you even get the first sniff of coffee. Go for something with a strong beat, as you would when you're choosing a track to work out to - just be sure to mix up the playlist, lest you condition yourself to hate the song more than you hated the alarm in the first place.

…and put your alarm clock far away from your bed

Let's face it: if you don't physically have to get out from under the covers, it just ain't happening. Provided you don't share a room with someone who gets up significantly later than you, leaving your alarm or phone as far out of your reach as possible will force you to leave your duvet cocoon to switch it the hell off - and by the time that you're vertical, the hard part is already over, and you might as well crack on.

Time your hair washing schedule around your workouts

Let's say you're going to work out three times a week, and you're an every other day kinda hairwasher. Make a deal with yourself that you can only wash your hair after thesweaty end of that hardcore spin class or half hour run - and if you don't go, you've gotta stick with the grease. Not only is a long hot shower a great post-workout treat, if you do choose to skip it, you know there's only so much that dry shampoo can do…

Use old pictures to your advantage…

Instead of the usual advice of picking a snap where you're unhappy with how you look, set your background to a picture of you looking how you felt best about your body - it might be weighing more or less, looking or feeling stronger, or simply appearing more toned and healthy than you are right now. Every time you see that image, you'll be reminded of your goal, and the fact that it is achievable, because you can see it on yourself.

…or surround yourself with fitspirational quotes

Pictures not giving you the kick up the butt you need? Set that lock screen to a motivational fitness quote instead. Whether it's 'strong not skinny', 'you're still lapping everyone on the couch' or 'stop wishing, start doing', pick a phrase that resonates with you and keep it somewhere prominent - in addition to your phone, you could use it as your wallpaper on your work computer, or stick a print of it on the mirror you look into every morning. These motivational fitness quotes for when you CBA to work out are the perfect place to start.

Colour code your workout clothes

According to colour theory, red is the colour of energy, making it ideal for days when you're working on crushing your cardio. No need to go head-to-toe tomato, as even a little pop is likely to invigorate you, and you can get similar stimulation from brights like neon too. At the other end of the spectrum, cooler blues and greens can aid concentration and focus for slower-paced workouts like yoga or weights.

Start small

Feeling like you can't face exercise at all today? Tell yourself that you're just going to put your kit on. Once you're wearing the right stuff, it's very unlikely you'll change back out of it without doing anything. Promise that you'll work out for just five minutes, and then five minutes more, and keep challenging yourself until you're really, truly done. Even if you only do 15 minutes, it's 15 minutes more that you felt like you wanted to do at the beginning.

Listen to a podcast

A killer workout playlist is obviously a great motivator, but sometimes, a really great podcast is even better. Podcasts vary from hilarious (Dad Wrote a Porno) to fascinating (Serial, This American Life) to inspirations (TED Talks), so there's something out there to distract everyone from the pain of sweating it out on the treadmill. Limit yourself to only listening to an episode or a chapter when you're exercising - soon enough, you'll hit an awesome cliffhanger that will make you uncharacteristically desperate for your next workout, just so you can find out what happens.

Instagram that shit

If people can show off about their incredible holiday or latest shopping haul, you're well without your rights to shout about your fitness regime from the rafters. Not only is using social media a great way to record your progress and keep yourself accountable, it gives you instant gratification every time you upload a snap and the hearts start flooding in. If you can't bring yourself to exercise for the health benefits, the endorphins or the epic meal you'll get to eat afterwards, then by all means, do it for the likes.

Put money aside each time you exercise

Most of us wouldn't go to work if we didn't earn money, so applying the same principle totally makes sense - almost like tipping yourself every time you keep to your workout schedule. However, important side note: avoid the £ = lbs mantra of saving money when you lose weight, as this can be disheartening - your scale reading varies according to factors including time of the month, muscle build and more, so it's not always representative of how hard you're working.

Or use an app that pays you to workout

The only thing better than paying yourself is getting someone else to do it for you. Apps like Pact, Bounts and Fitcoin will give you financial rewards that you can either have in cash, or trade in for treats at restaurants, stores etc. Before you start dreaming of dizzying levels of wealth, you should know that you won't earn millions no matter how many calories you burn, but working towards a free coffee or a discount on your new dress can give you that added boost to do those extra steps or swim that extra length of the pool.

Reward yourself with something other than food

We get it: most of us work out for another glass of vino, or an extra slice of cake, and we'd never deny you booze or carbs. BUT. If you can break free of the cycle of feeling like you have to 'earn' food, you can learn to associate other enjoyable activities with exercise - for instance, always having a hot bath with expensive bubbles or watching an hour of your fave Netflix show after a workout. Eventually, your body will begin to anticipate the treat at the end of the hard stuff, and you'll start realising it's totally worth it after all.