Olympic broadcaster Aimee Fuller reveals how to stay motivated, and the hacks that keep her moving, because even Olympians find excuses!
Words: Aimee Fuller | Photography: Aimee Fuller, Max Howard
Motivation is one of the most common things people ask me about. How do you stay consistent? How do you have so much energy? How do you keep going? It’s about protecting it and finding what works for you.
What do you do when you can’t be bothered to train? The truth is, motivation isn’t something that magically appears, it’s something you create with small habits and systems that make showing up easier. And I’ll be honest, there are days I do crash and succumb to a Deliveroo and a lie-in.
We’re all human, right? But it’s about minimising those moments and finding a way to get back on the horse more quickly so we can fulfil that desire to feel good mentally and physically, and even look good, too.
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My hacks for how to stay motivated
One of my biggest hacks for how to stay motivated is accountability. Set a goal with someone else. It could be a friend, a training partner or a class you book together, or even just booking that class and committing to it. When there’s someone expecting you to show up, you’re far more likely to turn up. It’s about the community, both in studio and around us at home, that supports your healthy habits.
Look around you. Are your friends fit? Do they like to move? Can that Sunday afternoon in the pub become a walk and talk around your local park with a coffee? For example, I box once a week with my best friend. We commit to a time and a date and it’s locked in. It’s not just a workout, it’s a catch-up,
a laugh and a guaranteed sweat session. That commitment makes it so much easier to stay consistent.
Let’s be honest, we don’t always want to get up at 6am to train before work, so where can you fit it in? Is it 30 minutes in a lunch break, or simply deciding to get off the tube two stops early on the way home from work and walk?
Sometimes motivation isn’t about pushing yourself harder, it’s about making fitness more social and accessible, and allowing adequate rest – whether it’s active (such as walking) or actually just taking a beat and having some time away from the gym, and hitting the sauna and ice bath instead.
Micro workouts count
Another big lesson I’ve learned is that there’s no right or wrong type of exercise. It’s all about finding what works for you. As a former professional snowboarder, strength and conditioning training was a huge part of my life. It was literally my job, and it became habitual and it began to feel like a grind. These days, I still love that style of training, but I’ve found ways to make it feel fun rather than like work.
I regularly go to an F45 class and I’m also a big fan of Barry’s sessions. The energy, the music and the group environment give me that extra push. But the key thing is finding ways to fit training into my schedule so it supports my life rather than taking it over.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to feel like I have to commit one-and-a-half hours to the gym every day. It doesn’t need to be that way. A speedy 45 minutes in the gym, and a walk when you are on a work call rather than sitting at your desk, means 30 minutes sitting could be 30 minutes of free movement. So take control of your time by giving yourself that option. If it eats into your time, it stops feeling sustainable.
My biggest tip? Little and often wins. Consistency is everything. At home, I keep things simple. I’ve got two sets of weights, my MiraFit weights at 10kg and 12.5kg, and that gives me options. Some mornings I’ll do a quick 15-minute strength session. If I have an early start, that 15 minutes sets me up and makes me feel alive, then I’ll head out for a walk. Later in the day, I might do another 15 minutes. It doesn’t have to happen in one big block.
So rather than saying ‘I have no time’, those minutes can add up across the day and before you know it you have done an hour in chunks. And when something feels accessible, you’re far more likely to stay motivated.
Find fun in fitness
This is something I started doing years ago when I was competing. When I was travelling as a professional snowboarder, I used to try to fit yoga into my schedule to help with recovery and mobility. I’d often do 20 minutes first thing in the morning, then another 30 minutes later in the day after being on the mountain.
People often use the excuse of having no gym or no space, but nothing stops you from taking a yoga mat or laying a towel down in a hotel and doing a few press-ups and some mobility work. Splitting it up made it realistic. Movement doesn’t have to look perfect or follow strict rules. It just needs to work for your lifestyle.
Another great way to stay motivated is to turn exercise into a hobby rather than a chore. I love playing padel with friends. It’s competitive, it’s social and you’re moving without even thinking about it. When exercise becomes something you enjoy, something you look forward to, it stops feeling like punishment. That’s really the key to sustainable long-term motivation.
Find the activity that lights you up. Train with people who make it fun. Break sessions into manageable chunks. And build movement into your life in a way that feels energising, not exhausting.
Because the best workout routine isn’t the most intense one. It’s the one you actually stick to.
Aimee’s motivation toolkit
If you’re struggling to stay consistent, try these simple strategies to make movement easier and more enjoyable.
Train with a friend
Accountability is powerful. Book a weekly workout with a friend – boxing, running club once a week, or a class – and treat it like a standing date. You’re far less likely to cancel.
Keep equipment at home
Having a few weights or resistance bands nearby removes barriers. Even a quick 10- to 15-minute session counts.
Break workouts into chunks
You don’t need a full hour. Two 15-minute sessions across the day can be just as effective and often far more achievable.
Make fitness social
Sports such as padel, group classes or team workouts turn exercise into something you genuinely look forward to.
Choose what you enjoy
There’s no ‘perfect’ workout. The best activity is the one that fits your lifestyle and keeps you coming back.
Invest in some new kit
Look good, feel good – and that goes for your shoes, too. I’ve just got a brand-new pair of bright pink Skechers to run in, so you won’t miss me.
Enjoy the process
When fitness feels fun, flexible and realistic, motivation follows naturally.
Two-time Team GB Winter Olympian, Aimee Fuller is a former pro snowboarder-turned TV sports broadcaster. Follow her @aimee_fuller.
