I hit the gym 2-3x week as maintenance no matter what and have for the last 10 years but have found that as I get older (35) it's come down to just about maintaining a habit, but I've started using upcoming events/plans as training motivation.....

Ex.

-Going on vacation to the USVI at the end of July....I want to look my best, so every time I'm in the gym I'm using that as motivation to push a little harder than normal and to make myself more accountable on diet.
-I've got a buddy's bachelor party at the end of August and will be seeing some people that I haven't seen in years and want to moog and make them jelly, so that's extra motivation to push harder.
-For my bachelor party we went hiking/camping, so my training catered around that for the 2-3 months leading up to it.
-I wanted to look more filled out in my face/in a suit for my wedding, so I bulked for the 3 months leading up to it.

I've always been the "athletic/healthy" one of the group, played multiple sports, blah blah and I feel like I have to maintain that persona...I dunno.....most people my age aren't concerned with this chit.
I just feel like I need a reason to lift/stay consistent these days and that reason, as I get older is harder to maintain mentally.


Anybody else use these little, non-consequential plans/events fuel their training?

Yes and no. I swim with a group like every other Saturday. Was at the pool last year and some lifeguards were mirin hard. So going back to that, yeah there is motivation. Otherwise no.