If you’re struggling to make exercise a habit, the following tips can help put you on the right path to becoming a consistent exerciser.
1. Know your best time.
Everyone is different when it comes to when they prefer to work out. It’s hard to cement an exercise habit if your workout times are completely random or simply fit into your spare time. First, figure out what time of day you feel or perform your best. Once you nail down your best time, be consistent to form a workout habit.
2. Get organized.
Keep your workout clothes and any gear you typically use in an easy-to-grab location. This way, when it is time to go, you won’t have to dig around for an outfit or search for equipment that’s stored in some faraway corner or closet.
3. Log it.
It’s important to track your actual workout stats including sets, reps, times or weight used, but don’t stop there. Use an app (or even a handwritten journal) to review your progress after workout sessions. This sounds silly, but it can help you zero in on what’s working for you and what’s not. Simply jotting down how you felt during the workout and why you liked or disliked it can help you craft a more customized approach to fitness. It’s much easier to sustain a habit that’s enjoyable than one that is a chore.
4. Identify your goal.
It’s very easy to let your fitness fizzle if you haven’t identified where you want to go and why you want to get there. This doesn’t have to be anything over the top, but it does have to be something that matters to you. Two ways to make this goal feel real and come to fruition: Write it down, and tell someone about it. Having a goal on paper helps breathe life into it, while telling someone about it immediately makes you accountable to the goal and that person.
5. Create a ripple effect.
If you have children, there’s a great chance that they look up to you and watch you for cues on how to behave. If they see your behavior includes consistent and responsible efforts toward fitness and exercise, they will be more likely to follow in your footsteps and hand down that approach for generations to come. The ripple effects of a strong fitness and exercise habit go far beyond just you. Recognizing that your efforts are benefitting those close to you should help spur you to keep your fitness and exercise habit strong.
