---
title: Jumpstart Your Workout Motivation When You Have the Blues
description: When you’ve got the blues, exercise may feel downright impossible. But you can revive your workout motivation, and thereby your mood, with these 7 tips.
image: https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Blog/Article%20Images/Blog%2050%20-%20Workout%20Motivation/blog_50_feature.jpg
---
[LOG IN](https://www.silverandfit.com/identity/login) [Check Eligibility](https://www.silverandfit.com/identity/registration)
- [HOMEPAGE](https://www.silverandfit.com/)
- [WELL-BEING CLUB](https://www.silverandfit.com/well-being-club)
- [FITNESS CENTERS](https://www.silverandfit.com/search)
- FIT AT HOME
- [Workouts](https://www.silverandfit.com/workouts)
- [Home Kits](https://www.silverandfit.com/home-kits)
- [PARTICIPATING HEALTH PLANS](https://www.silverandfit.com/health-plans)
- [HOW IT WORKS](https://www.silverandfit.com/how-it-works)
- [FAQ](https://www.silverandfit.com/faq)
- [BLOG](https://blog.silverandfit.com/)
### Topics
- Select a Topic
### Get the latest tips in your inbox
SUBSCRIBE
By providing your email you consent to receiving updates to the Silver&Fit blog by email. Silver&Fit does not share or sell your email to any third-parties. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of the email.
[Fitness](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness)
# Jumpstart Your Workout Motivation When You Have the Blues
By [The Silver&Fit® Team at American Specialty Health](https://blog.silverandfit.com/author/american-specialty-health) on July 29, 2022
[](http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/workout-motivation) [](https://twitter.com/home?status=Jumpstart%20Your%20Workout%20Motivation%20When%20You%20Have%20the%20Blues+https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/workout-motivation) [](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/workout-motivation) [](mailto:?body=https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/workout-motivation)
When you’ve got the blues, exercise may feel downright impossible. But you can revive your workout motivation, and thereby your mood, with these 7 tips.
When your spirits are down, it can be hard to get your body up. Your workout motivation understandably tends to tank. Your fitness level can take a hit, too. Under the circumstances, a drop in motivation is normal. Depression—or even a rise in stress or a drop in mood—can disrupt your sleep, sap your energy, and make even small tasks feel monumental.
But here’s the rub: When the situation lingers, moving can become even harder. And that can further worsen your mood. Pretty soon you might become stuck in a vicious cycle. But getting your body in motion can be one of the best ways to break that cycle and lift your spirits.
Boosting your heart rate and blood flow even a notch can spark energy and sharpen focus. It can buoy slumping spirits and help push you past your inertia. While exercising may not solve every problem, it can help put you in a better frame of mind. And that can make solving your problems a lot easier.
**How does exercise improve mental health?**
Small bouts of movement and regular exercise can enhance your mood and even ease depression. Getting active can boost your confidence. It can offer a temporary, healthy distraction from your blues.
Working out with friends or family can be a form of social engagement, which is known to ease stress and boost mental well-being. [Learn more about the many ways exercise can support your mental health.](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495)
Routine exercise actually changes your brain. Sustained, low- to moderate-intensity workouts trigger the release of proteins that boost the growth of nerve cells, which strengthens the connections between different parts of the brain. One part of the brain where this happens is in the hippocampus, a structure that plays a key role in mood.
Higher-intensity exercise can also help with mood. It does this by boosting levels of feel-good endorphins in the brain. This leads to a happy state known as “runner’s high.”
But you don’t have to knock out a full workout to turn your mood around. When you’re sagging under the weight of worry or a temporary case of the blues, your best move is simply to move. Once you do that, graduating to more routine exercise becomes easier.
Here are 7 tips to help get you moving and boost your workout motivation:
1. **Start smaller.** Moving even a little bit may be all you need to start feeling more like yourself. Get going with 5 to 10 minutes of walking or dynamic stretching with full body movements. Then note how you feel. Better? If so, you might want to add a few more minutes.
You might even feel like doing something more vigorous. If not, that’s OK, too. Just try for even a small bout of movement each day.
2. **Make it tempting.** If you have great music, a good audiobook, or a podcast that you’re hooked on, use them when you exercise. Those little indulgences can be a big help on days when your motivation is low.
Go for a walk or do some squats and lunges while tuned in to something you love listening to. Or pair some biceps curls and wall push-ups with your favorite TV show. Research also suggests that the right music can help make workouts feel less arduous. That can help boost your workout motivation in a big way.
3. **Have some easy fun.** You don’t need to do a structured workout. If you don’t love running even on your most pumped days, why push yourself to tread on the ‘mill when your motivation is low?
Instead, move in casual ways that you enjoy. Maybe that’s dancing around the living room, shooting hoops, walking your dog, gardening, or riding a bike around your neighborhood. Workout motivation comes more easily when you’re having fun. [Learn how this fun, active hobby gets you out in nature, stimulates your mind, and helps enhance your mood.](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/birdwatching-for-wellness)
4. **Find the best time.** If you’re starting to take things up a notch and scheduling more formal workouts, timing is key. If you tend to feel mentally and/or physically drained at the end of the day, plan your workouts in the morning, midday, or early afternoon. Low energy often equals low motivation, so figure out the times of the day you feel most up for exercise.
5. **Track your progress.** Keep track of when you work out, what kind of activity you did, and how long you spent doing it. Make note of how you felt afterward, too. Better? More energized? How well did you sleep that night? Jot all of this down in a notebook or on your phone or tablet. Tracking the fruits of your labor is a great way to stay motivated.
6. **Think of movement as self-care.** When you’re down, you might need to be more patient with yourself and practice some self-love. Physical activity—at any level of intensity—can be just the TLC your body, mind, and spirit need.
Focusing on the benefits may help you break out of a slump and infuse yourself with new energy. [Find out how combining your fitness routine with a good deed can boost your exercise motivation in a big way.](https://blog.silverandfit.com/pick-up-the-plogging-trend-for-better-health-fitness-and-well-being)
7. **Celebrate.** Be proud that you’re making an effort to take care of yourself and your health. You don’t need to win marathons to celebrate your achievements.
Pat yourself on the back and savor the sense of accomplishment you feel after each workout or short burst of movement. Reward yourself with a warm shower, a good meal, or an early bedtime.
Remind yourself that each step you take to getting more active is leading you closer to better physical and mental health. You may find that you feel like yourself again very soon. And your workout motivation may return right along with that improved mood. But if your depressed mood persists, reach out to your health care provider for support right away.
Not a Silver&Fit® member? Learn more about everything the program has to offer, including more helpful healthy living tips like this, [here on our website](https://www.silverandfit.com/).
*This information is not intended to take the place of regular medical care or advice. Please check with your doctor before using this information or beginning any self-care program. Images used for this article do not depict any members of the Silver&Fit program.*
**References**
Berridge, K. C. (2007). The debate over dopamine’s role in reward: The case for incentive salience. Psychopharmacology, 191(3), 391-431. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0578-x](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0578-x)
Craft, L. L., & Perna, F. M. (2004). The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 6(3), 104–111. [https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v06n0301](https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.v06n0301)
Harvard Health Publishing. (2021, February 2). Exercise is an all-natural treatment to fight depression. [https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression](https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression)
Robinson, L., Segal, J., & Smith, M. (2025, March 13). The mental health benefits of exercise. HelpGuide.org. [https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm](https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm)
Mammen, G., & Faulkner, G. (2013). Physical activity and the prevention of depression: A systematic review of prospective studies. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 45(5), 649–657. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.08.001](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2013.08.001)
Mayo Clinic. (2023, December 23). Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms. [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495)
Mayo Clinic. (2022, October 14). Depression (major depressive disorder). [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007)
Williams, V. (2017, July 10). Mayo Clinic Minute: 6 tips to keep you motivated for exercise. Mayo Clinic News Network. [https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-6-tips-to-keep-you-motivated-for-exercise/](https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-6-tips-to-keep-you-motivated-for-exercise/)
This article was written by Gail Olson, edited by Jason Nielsen, and clinically reviewed by Jaynie Bjornaraa PhD, MPH, PT, LAT, ATC, CSCS, CSPS, on April 30, 2025.
[Return to Homepage](https://blog.silverandfit.com/)
## About the Author
### The Silver&Fit® Team at American Specialty Health
The award-winning Silver&Fit® Blog is brought to life by a seasoned team of professionals at American Specialty Health (ASH), an organization with nearly 2 decades of experience in senior wellness programming. The Silver&Fit® blog writers, editors, clinicians, designers, and marketing specialists are dedicated to delivering engaging, informative wellness content. Every article is carefully researched and clinically reviewed for accuracy. Our goal? Content that supports healthy aging through trusted, research-based insights on fitness, nutrition, stress management, and more, tailored specifically for older adults seeking to live more vibrant, active, and healthy lives.
#### Recommended Articles
[](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/creatine)
##### [Can Creatine Supplements Help Build and Maintain Muscle?](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/creatine)
- May 25, 2026
[](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/somatic-exercises)
##### [Feel Better From the Inside Out With Somatic Exercise](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/somatic-exercises)
- April 27, 2026
[](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/interval-walking)
##### [Get Better Results With Interval Walking](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness/interval-walking)
- March 30, 2026
### Popular Posts
### Get the latest tips from Silver&Fit in your inbox.
### Recent Post
### Recent Posts
[6 Simple Balance Training Exercises to Help Prevent Falls](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/healthy-aging/balance-training)
- 29 July, 2022
[Pack in the Protein With Easy-to-Make Grain Bowls](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/nutrition/grain-bowls)
- 29 July, 2022
[Pursue Lifelong Learning for Brain Fitness](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/healthy-aging/brain-fitness)
- 29 July, 2022
[How to Keep Relationships Healthy As You Age](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/lifestyle/healthy-relationships)
- 29 July, 2022
[Longevity Lessons From the “Blue Zones”](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/healthy-aging/blue-zones)
- 29 July, 2022
Brought To You By
### Silver&Fit
The Silver&Fit® program provides eligible members with a fitness center membership and options to stay Fit at Home.
-
-
-
-
-
### Topics
- [Nutrition (54)](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/nutrition)
- [Healthy Aging (53)](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/healthy-aging)
- [Fitness (51)](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/fitness)
- [Lifestyle (49)](https://blog.silverandfit.com/tag/lifestyle)
### We've been expertly designing senior fitness programs for nearly 20 years. Now, we're excited to share the health in our blog, free and available to the public. Interested? Get the latest fitness, healthy aging, lifestyle, and nutrition tips in your inbox!
SUBSCRIBE
[Facebookfacebook](https://www.facebook.com/SilverandFit) [Instagraminstagram](https://www.instagram.com/silverandfit/?hl=en) [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/silverandfit) [Pinterestpinterest](https://pinterest.com/silverandfit) [LinkedInlinkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-specialty-health)
- Useful Links
- [About Us](https://www.silverandfit.com/About)
- [Terms & Conditions](https://www.silverandfit.com/TermsAndConditions)
- [Privacy Statement](https://www.silverandfit.com/Privacy)
- [FAQ](https://www.silverandfit.com/FAQ)
- [Site Map](https://www.silverandfit.com/sitemap)
## Connect
[Contact Us](https://www.silverandfit.com/contactus)
## Language Assistance
The following PDF files will open in a new window. You must have [Adobe ReaderOpens an external site in a new tab](https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pdf-reader.html) installed to view the files.
- [English](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Español](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [繁體中文](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Tagalog](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Tiếng Việt](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [العربية](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Français](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [한국어](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Русский](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Deutsch](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Kreyòl Ayisyen](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [हिंदी](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Português](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Italiano](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Polski](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [اُردُو](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [אידיש](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [বাংলা](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Ελληνικά](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
- [Shqiptar](https://blog.silverandfit.com/hubfs/SF%20Linked%20Files/M950-1031A%20Language%20Support_tcm26-161058.pdf)
Newtab\_Icon Clicking on these links will take you away from Silverandfit.com. Silver&Fit is not responsible for any content or the privacy practices of external websites.
The Silver&Fit program is a product of American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc. (ASH Fitness), a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated. ASH Fitness complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
© 2020-2025 American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). All Rights Reserved.
Last Updated 11/2025