Motivation Matters

I’ve always said that habits are critical and motivation is secondary. Habits are what keep you consistent, showing up day after day, even when you don’t feel like it. Motivation? It’s fleeting. It might get you started, but it won’t keep you going.

But here’s the thing: every once in a while, a spark of motivation can give you that extra spring in your step. It can make the tough days feel just a little easier, the grind a bit more enjoyable, and the path ahead a little less daunting.

Motivation doesn’t replace habits, but it can fuel them. When you recognise and celebrate the small wins, you create those sparks of motivation that help you stick with your habits longer and stronger.

Here’s What We Know About Motivation

1. Success has to happen before you’ll feel motivated. A win—even a small one—creates the spark that makes you want to keep going.
2. Success has to keep happening to sustain motivation. Consistency builds momentum, and momentum keeps you moving forward.
3. We don’t always recognise success when it happens. Most of us are too quick to dismiss our wins and focus on what’s not perfect.

At Round 1 Fitness, we focus on making those small wins visible. From hitting your first boxing combo to conquering your nerves about trying a new class, those moments matter.

Tracking Wins Builds Momentum

That’s why tools like FitBox where you can track the number of classes you have done AND – for specific workouts – how much weight you are lifting/how long it took you to ‘finish’ a workout – aren’t just there for fun.  These tools are there to remind you of your progress – a great recent example that was a little less ‘high tech’ was the sticker board during the Summer Slam Challenge. But even beyond the numbers, we encourage everyone to take time to reflect on what’s going right.

Success isn’t always about the big, dramatic moments. It’s in the little things: showing up when you didn’t feel like it, finishing a workout when you wanted to quit, or simply sticking to your routine.

Introducing “Bright Spots Friday”

To help you notice and celebrate those wins, we’re launching Bright Spots Friday at Round 1 Fitness. Each week, we’ll share our wins—big and small—in our members’ group. Think of it as a way to fuel your motivation by recognizing the habits you’ve built and the progress you’ve made.

Your Bright Spot might be:

• Completing a tough session without taking extra breaks.
• Finally hitting your daily step goal for the first time in weeks.
• Finding time on a Sunday to do your meal prep like you had promised yourself.
• It might not even be gym related – it might be the pride you have in one of your kids winning a merit award at school and how the effort they have shown has spurred you to renew your own efforts!

The first time you share, it might feel a bit strange. You might wonder if anyone cares. But trust me, your Round 1 family is here to cheer you on.

I’m going to go ‘first’ this week and my Bright Spot isn’t even really about me!

This week, my Bright Spot was seeing the camaraderie and energy in the gym over the Christmas break.  To be booking out all classes day after day and seeing everyone laughing together, pushing hard together and generally being in the ‘spirit’ of the season…honestly that is really what our gym is all about.

Now it’s your turn. What habit did you stick to? What win made you feel proud?

Let’s share our Bright Spots in the Round 1 Fitness Members Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2277338565926892).  Each Friday we will kick off a new post called ‘Bright Spots’ and all you need to do is jump on – celebrate the achievements of others and maybe add something of your own.

Building habits takes time, but recognising the wins along the way keeps you motivated for the long haul. Let’s end the week feeling proud and start the weekend ready for more.

See you in the gym,

Michael.