This week, I thought I’d explore something I’ve promised to do for a while, and it is something that trips many people up on the road to health, fitness and strength: the difference between motivation and inspiration. These two words are often lumped together, and used almost interchangeably, but in reality they’re quite different creatures – and knowing that can be the secret weapon in your training toolkit.

🌟 Inspiration: That Sparkly, Shiny Feeling

Inspiration is that initial “Ooh, I fancy a bit of that” feeling. You know the one. Maybe you saw someone deadlift twice their bodyweight on Instagram, or a friend just finished a Couch to 5K and is suddenly glowing with energy. Maybe you watched a YouTube video on calisthenics and spent the next 20 minutes Googling “the human flag” (been there, done that!).

Inspiration is exciting. It’s that flutter in your chest, the little fire that says “I want that too!” It’s the dream, the big picture, the vision of your best self – strong, capable, energised, walking out of the gym like a superhero in slow motion.

But here’s the catch: inspiration is fleeting. It’s a visitor, not a tenant. It might get you through your first gym session or onto the yoga mat once or twice, but then life happens. Rainy days, long commutes, dodgy knees, tempting biscuits… and suddenly, the sparkle fades.

💪 Motivation: The Get-Up-and-Do-It Anyway

Now motivation – that’s a grittier business. Motivation is the thing that gets you out of bed when you don’t feel like it. It’s not glamorous or always particularly fun. It’s the “I said I’d go, so I’m going” voice in your head when it’s cold, and you’d rather stay home in your dressing gown.

The trickiest bit? Motivation isn’t permanent either. People often say “I just need to find my motivation,” as if it’s something hidden under the sofa cushions. But in truth, motivation is more like a muscle. It’s built by doing – by showing up, again and again, even when your inspiration’s gone AWOL. It is about starting to form a habit, so that if you don’t do a scheduled workout, you feel “wrong”, maybe like you’ve let yourself down, or in the modern vernacular you’ve given yourself “the ick!” (see I could hang with the kids!… well maybe not).

🏋️‍♀️ So, What’s the Takeaway?

In the world of health and fitness, both are useful – but they serve different roles.

✨ Inspiration is what gets you started.
🔥 Motivation is what keeps you going.

Inspiration sets the direction – it gives you a picture of who you want to be. Motivation builds the bridge to get there, one not-always-glamorous rep at a time.

The best news? You don’t have to rely on either forever. Once you’ve built habits, you start to lean less on mood and more on momentum. Going to the gym or going for a walk to get your daily steps in becomes just what you do, like brushing your teeth or feeding the dog.

So the next time you feel inspired – brilliant. Bottle it. Write down your goals. Get excited. But don’t wait for that feeling to carry you forever. Start building small habits, tiny bits of action, and trust that motivation will grow with repetition. And if you miss a day? Don’t panic. That’s part of the process too. Just get back on schedule as soon as you are able to. 

Remember: it’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up more often than not.

You’ve got this. And if you’re ever short on motivation – well, that’s what coaches are here for. It is my job to help you with the motivation, and keep you on track so you can achieve your goals and become that version of you that you want to be. So, if you aren’t already working with me, and would like help staying motivated, please do get in touch. I’d love to have a chat with you about how we could work together to get you fitter, stronger and healthier.😃