Hey there, you’ve decided it’s time to make working out a regular habit. Make Workout A Regular. That’s awesome – your body and mind will thank you for it. How many times have you started an exercise routine only to give up after a few weeks? The key is to build the habit slowly and make it stick. If you follow these six simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to making exercise a regular and rewarding part of your daily routine. Health and Wellness. All you need is the willingness to stick with it and the determination to make it a priority. You’ve got this! In just a month or two, exercise can become second nature if you start with a few basic techniques to form the habit. Let’s dive in and get you started.
Start Small and Set Realistic Fitness Goals
Start Small and Set Realistic health and Fitness Goals to make working out a habit, you have to start small. Don’t aim to do intense hour-long gym sessions 5 days a week right from the start. You’ll get discouraged and quit. Start with 4 a weekly session which should be 15 to 25 minutes long to keep you in touch with fitness.
Building the habit is the priority, not advancing to an elite athlete level. Start with basic activities you genuinely enjoy and feel good doing. Keep your goals modest and achievable. Walk 3 times a week. Do 15 minutes of yoga. Little milestones are victories. Celebrate them!
Increase one factor at a time and listen to your body. If you feel overwhelmed or dread your workouts, scale back. The key is sustainability.
Some Other Bits Of Advice To Help You Stay On Way
Choose a regular time to exercise and stick to it.
- Find an accountability partner or join an online community to help motivate you or connect with the fitness trainer to stay aligned with your workout routine.
- Track your progress to stay motivated. Use a fitness tracker or just record your workouts in a journal.
- Reward yourself for milestones achieved to keep yourself positively reinforced. Buy new workout gear or treat yourself to a massage.
- Mix up your routine to prevent boredom. Try new activities or routes, workout videos or streaming classes. Variety is key.
- Most of all, be kind to yourself. Everyone slips up sometimes. Just get back to your routine and focus on all the progress you’ve made rather than a single setback. You’ve got this! Building better habits and a healthier lifestyle is a journey. Celebrate each step along the way.
Make It a Routine With Consistent Scheduling
Make It a Routine with Consistent Scheduling to make working out a habit, you need to make it a routine part of your schedule. Pick days and times for your workouts and stick to them each week.
Whatever schedule you choose, consistency is key. Block out those times each week and prioritize your workouts. Treat each session like an important appointment or meeting. If you have to reschedule for some reason, make sure to pencil in a make-up workout to get back on track.
To help build the habit, start with a reasonable workout frequency that fits your current fitness level and schedule. Don’t jump into an intense 5-day-a-week plan if you’re just getting started. Begin with two or three workouts a week, around 25 to 35 minutes each. Exactly! Gradual progression is key to building a sustainable workout habit.
Decide which exercises, activities, or classes you want to do for each session. Some options include:
- Going for a jogging or bike ride.
- Doing an at-home workout video.
- Take a yoga, spin, or kickboxing class at your gym.
- Meeting with a personal trainer.
- Going for a reel at your home-grown pool.
Planning removes the guesswork and makes you more accountable. You’ll be less likely to skip a workout if you know exactly what you intend to do.
The more you stick to your routine, the more habitual it will become. In just a few short weeks of consistent scheduling and planning, working out can turn into an automatic part of your day. You’ll get to the point where you feel off if you miss a session.
Find an Accountability Partner to Stay Motivated
Finding an accountability partner is one of the best ways to stay motivated and make working out a habit. Having a dedicated partner who shares your goal of establishing a regular workout routine can help keep you on track through encouragement and support.
Look for a friend, family member, or coworker who has similar fitness goals. Explain that you want to start working out regularly and ask if they’d be willing to team up as accountability partners. If they say yes, that’s great! If not, try posting on social media or community groups to find a like-minded partner. You just need one person to connect with you regularly about your shared goal.
These check-ins can be quick calls, messages, or in-person meetups. Discuss what you’ve accomplished, share updates, ask how you can motivate each other, and set small milestones to work towards. Celebrate victories, big and small. Positive reinforcement from an accountability partner can help build long-term habits.
Meet at the gym for strength training, go for walks or jogs, join an exercise class, whatever works with your schedules and fitness interests. Exercising together is a great way to bond over your shared goal and stay motivated. You can push each other to give that extra 10% and make it a rewarding social experience.
An accountability partner provides support through challenges and setbacks. If one of you falls off the workout wagon, the other is there to encourage getting back on track right away. Don’t dwell on slip-ups, just renew your commitment and keep moving forward. With the support of an accountability partner, you can make regular workouts a habit and achieve long-term success. Staying active and fit will enrich your life for years to come!
Make It Fun by Switching Up Your Workouts
Making your workout fun and exciting will keep you engaged and coming back for more. Absolutely! Hiring a personal trainer can be a great way to add variety and keep your workouts engaging. Make Workout A Regular. A personal trainer can assess your fitness level, goals, and any specific needs or preferences you may have.
Try Different Activities
Diversifying your workout routine can make it more enjoyable and effective. Consider trying activities like swimming, yoga, Pilates, dance, kickboxing, team sports, or even hiking. Give some of these a try:
-Yoga or Tai Chi for flexibility and balance -Swimming or water aerobics for low-impact cardio -Dance classes like Zumba for fun cardio -Rock climbing or obstacle courses for an adrenaline rush -Team sports like volleyball or softball to add a social element.
Changing your physical activities keeps your body challenged and prevents plateaus.
Mix Up Your Equipment
If you always use the same weights, treadmill, or exercise bike, it’s easy to get bored. Try exercise bands for resistance training without weights. A rowing machine for an intense full-body workout. A jump rope for a portable cardio option anywhere. A fitness tracker to set new goals and challenges.
New equipment makes your workout feel fresh again. Look for affordable options to use at home or try different machines at your local gym.
Set New challenges
Some ideas include increasing your speed, distance, or intensity over time, mastering a new yoga pose or lifting a heavier weight, shaving time off your mile or improving your flexibility, and completing an obstacle course faster or with fewer rest breaks.
Having concrete goals gives you motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Keeping things fun and challenging is key to making regular workouts a habit. Try new activities, mix up your equipment, and set inspiring goals. Your body and mind will thank you, and you’ll never get bored.
Track Your Progress to See Results and Stay Inspired
Tracking your progress is key to staying on track with your workout habits. Here are a little ways to track your improvement:
Record Your Workouts
Keep a simple log or journal of your workouts. Note the date, duration, exercises done, weights lifted, mileage run, etc. You’ll start to see patterns in your progress, like running faster or lifting heavier. This concrete evidence of improvement will inspire you to keep pushing forward.
Take Progress Photos
Pictures don’t lie. Look for changes in your muscle tone, posture, and physique. Don’t get discouraged if changes seem small or slow progress photos are a long game.
Track Metrics Over Time
Use a fitness tracker to record metrics like steps taken, calories burned, distance covered, and heart rate. Set weekly and monthly goals to beat your previous numbers. Compete against yourself to steadily improve your stats. This makes getting in your workouts a fun challenge and game.
Celebrate Milestones
Note any victories, big or small, along the way. Maybe you lifted a heavier weight for the first time, ran a faster mile, or simply made it to the gym 5 days in a row. Pat yourself on the back for these wins. You deserve recognition for your dedication and determination. Celebrating milestones will keep you motivated to achieve the next one.
Tracking your progress helps make your workouts a habit by providing accountability and visible results. You’ll get into a positive feedback loop of progress and motivation that keeps you working out week after week.
Make a Strong Connection Between you and your Body
Making exercise a habit starts with building a strong connection between your mind and body. “Focus on how you feel”
Pay close attention to how energized, productive, and positive you feel after exercise. Note the mental clarity and sense of accomplishment. “Start slow and buildup”
Don’t overwhelm yourself by attempting long, intense workouts right away. Begin with just 10 or 15 minutes a few times a week. A short walk or basic bodyweight circuit is easy to fit in and will make you feel good. As exercise becomes a habit, you can gradually increase the duration and difficulty. Success is a journey, not a destination. “Find physical activities you genuinely enjoy”
“Schedule exercise like any other appointment”
Block out time in your calendar for workouts just like you would for a meeting or doctor’s appointment.
Track Your Progress
Use a fitness tracker to record your workouts. Tracking your progress will keep you motivated, show how far you’ve come, and make you less likely to skip a workout. Refer back to your records if you ever feel discouraged or unmotivated. You’ve got this! Stay consistent and patient with yourself.