Everyone finds themselves in a rut from time to time. Maybe work has slowed down as the end of the year and the holiday season approaches, or perhaps you’ve grown tired of teaching the same classes week after week. Sometimes a routine becomes a bit too routine, and this can be particularly problematic for newcomers to the industry who are still trying to find their footing.

Rather than becoming disillusioned with the fitness industry or simply putting their head down and pushing through the downtimes, successful pros will use proven strategies for climbing up out of these ruts and reaching new levels of motivation and enthusiasm for the work they do. We reached out to several industry veterans and asked what they do when they feel their motivation starting to wane. Here’s what they had to say.

Reconnect With Your Passion

Step 1 is to reflect on what you are currently doing and asking yourself, “Do I still find joy in it? Is it still feeding my passion?”

Finding your “why” has become a bit of a cliché in the coaching and personal-training worlds, but for good reason. Pros often tell clients to dig deeper to uncover the underlying reasons why they want to lose weight or get healthier, for example, and it’s important you do the same when it comes to being a health and exercise professional.

According to Chris Gagliardi, MS, ACE Scientific Education Content Manager and an ACE Certified Health Coach, Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Medical Exercise Specialist, we often begin the client–coach relationship by intentionally unearthing the client's “why” with regard to personal values and their motivations for wanting to change. “When working through a professional rut,” he says, “I think revisiting or reaffirming your professional ‘why’ can be a great place to start. Again, just as with our clients, once we know the ‘why,’ we can start working on the ‘how’ by setting self-determined goals and action plans, or rut busters.”

“When motivation dips or burnout creeps in, pause and revisit why you chose this profession in the first place,” urges Erin Nitschke, EdD, exercise science professor and Program Director of Sciences at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming and an ACE Certified Health Coach and Personal Trainer. “Write down moments when you felt most fulfilled, such as helping a client reach a milestone, watching someone gain confidence in their body or building relationships that extend beyond the gym. That reminder of purpose can reignite intrinsic motivation.”

Dr. Nitschke recommends creating a “motivation file” where you jot down client wins, testimonials or even gratitude notes. “When you’re feeling stuck,” she says, “flipping through this file can rest your mind and remind you that your work has a profound impact.”

Reena Vokoun, Founder and CEO of Passion Fit, echoes this approach: “Write about your purpose, why you chose the path you did and how to create some balance going forward. Most of us who work in the health, wellness and fitness industry want to help others and make a positive impact. So, remember your ‘why’ and prioritize your own health and well-being to get out of that rut and thrive once again!”

Some people call it their why. Others call it their passion. By any name, it’s vital that you reconnect with why you started this career in the first place, as that should be the driving force in getting out of a rut and moving forward with purpose.

Reach Out to Your Inner Circle

“My top choice is always reaching out to my circle,” says Araceli De Leon, MS, E-RYT 500, ACE Product Development and Content Manager and an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Health Coach and Group Fitness Instructor. That could be a mentor, coworker or friend—really anyone who knows you well and with whom you feel comfortable talking about your motivational struggles. Another trainer at the same facility may understand what it’s like working in that particular environment, De Leon explains, while a mentor may offer a unique perspective that you may not have considered.

Leaning on the people you trust is always a good option.

Volunteer

Jacque Crockford, DHSc, ACE Director of Product Development and an ACE Certified Health Coach and Personal Trainer, works with non-profit organizations like Prison Yoga Project and The Phoenix that have missions that align closely with her own: to promote healing through movement. “Volunteering, in any capacity, can be a powerful way to reconnect, first with your community and second with the value of your own skills,” she explains. “When we choose to give our time to causes we truly believe in, the act itself becomes a reminder of why we started doing this work in the first place. Seeing people move, connect and heal together is often a reward far greater than a paycheck. And for professionals who feel stuck or burned out, those moments of purpose and impact can spark the kind of inspiration that helps you climb out of a rut.”

Think about how you can deliver your services to populations that may not have access or that you are not currently serving and find volunteer opportunities that align with your values and passion.

Give Yourself a Break

“I highly recommend taking a well-deserved break from your work,” says Vokoun. “The length of the break is up to you and how much time you need or can take off. Then, during the break, I would spend some time resting, moving and nourishing your body and writing in a journal.”

Jan Schroeder, PhD, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Long Beach State University and an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor, agrees that breaks are sometimes essential. “I have given myself permission to sub out my classes for a week or even two in order to reset myself,” she says. “I have come back hungry to teach again and to see my members.”

De Leon also agrees that allowing yourself to take a break can help you come back refreshed, whether that involves taking time off work, doing things you enjoy or doing nothing at all. “Being okay with taking a break is not easy,” she says, “but it’s sometimes necessary.”

Do Some Self-Care

“Working in the fitness industry requires giving so much of yourself to others, and over time that can lead to burnout,” says Louise Green, ACE education partner and ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor. “When I start to feel that way, I pause and reassess my schedule, shifting the focus back to my own self-care. I begin my mornings away from my phone, spend time meditating, seek out nature and adjust my workouts to lighter loads to help manage fatigue. I also practice saying ‘no’ more often—and saying ‘yes’ only to the things (and people) that truly energize me.”

Pursue Education

Pete McCall, fitness instructor at Rancho La Puerta in Baja California, Mexico, and an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, says that the answer to burnout is to attend a live workshop or learning event. “Training or instructing can feel lonely and isolated at times; attending a live workshop allows you to connect with other professionals to learn something new that can be used to help clients or program classes,” he explains. “Yes, learning online or by watching videos is possible, but nothing beats connecting, learning, sharing and growing together in real life.”

Set Up Accountability

One way to climb out of a rut is to force your own hand by signing up for events or programs that will provide a built-in level of accountability. “I know there will be times when I lack motivation or am burnt out,” says De Leon, when speaking about her exercise program, “so I purposefully join clubs and gyms that will notice when I am not showing up. For example, if I miss a few run club days, I know I will be called out by people asking where I was or if I was being a slacker.”

That same approach can be applied to your business or work routine. For example, sign up for an event or educational experience that costs money that you don’t want to waste or ask a colleague to trade classes with you for a week to add variety and shake things up.

Change Where, When and How You Work

Sometimes a simple change of scenery can do the trick. “One thing that I have done for personal training is to change up the location of the sessions,” explains Dr. Schroeder. “I have moved them outside, to the pool or to another area of the gym—good for both my clients as well as myself!”

This may also be an opportunity to challenge yourself. For example, maybe you’ve been considering leading online sessions or posting workout reels to social media but are nervous in front of the camera. Learning a new skillset and pushing out of your comfort zone may be an effective way to climb out of a professional rut.

Work on Your Business

Another good option is to focus more time on the business side of things—working on your business rather than in your business. Spend some time working on your branding, marketing, networking or content creation for your website or social media. As mentioned earlier, continuing education and broadening your skillset can be a great rut buster, and this holds true for business skills, as well. So, seek out education to improve your business, networking and communication skills, for example. Finally, think about additional revenue streams that will not only help your business, but also break up the monotony that put you in a rut in the first place.

Final Thoughts

When thinking about how to get out of a rut, consider what you need in the moment. All the strategies shared by our industry vets may help you at different times in your career, but it’s up to you to determine what serves you best right now. A few days of rest, relaxation and journaling may do the trick, or you may have to seek out a fitness convention in your area and sign up for a few days of in-person education and networking. Maybe it’s time to put in some hours of practice in front of the camera and seek out feedback from trusted mentors or family members, or perhaps volunteering one day each weekend will help you reconnect with the passion that made you a health coach or exercise professional in the first place.

Whatever strategy you choose, remember that it’s entirely possible to climb out of a rut and end up at a higher, more motivated place than you were beforehand, as long as you are mindful of why you wanted to enter this industry at the beginning of your career and seek out new and exciting ways to reach the people who need you most.