Are you someone who starts a workout routine with great enthusiasm, but struggles to maintain consistency over time? If so, you’re not alone. Many people find it challenging to stick to a regular exercise regimen, especially with the demands of daily life.
However, establishing a consistent workout routine is crucial if you want to see real results and achieve your fitness goals. In this article, we’ll share some tips and strategies to help you get into a consistent workout routine and stay on track for the long term.
Set Realistic Goals
One of the most common reasons people struggle to stick to a workout routine is that they set unrealistic goals for themselves. If you’ve never exercised before or are returning after a long break, it’s important to start small and gradually increase your intensity over time.
Instead of setting a goal to work out every day for an hour, aim to exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week. As you get more comfortable with your routine, you can gradually increase the frequency and duration of your workouts.
Schedule Your Workouts
If you don’t schedule your workouts, it’s easy to let other things get in the way and skip them altogether. Treat your workouts like any other important appointment and schedule them into your calendar.
Choose a time of day that works best for you and stick to it as much as possible. Whether it’s early in the morning, during your lunch break, or after work, make sure you prioritise your workout time and make it a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.
Find an Accountability Partner
Having someone to hold you accountable can be a powerful motivator when it comes to sticking to a workout routine. Find a friend or family member who shares your fitness goals and commit to working out together. Knowing that someone else is counting on you to show up can make it easier to stay committed and consistent.
You can also buy a fitness watch that will keep reminding you that you need to workout and keep track of your progress. Sometimes it acts as an extra push to keep monitoring your progress and daily get the work done.
Mix It Up
Doing the same workout every day can quickly become boring and monotonous, which can make it harder to stay motivated. Mix up your workouts by trying different types of exercise, such as cardio, strength training, and yoga.
You can also vary the intensity of your workouts by incorporating interval training, which involves alternating between high-intensity and low-intensity exercise. Not only will this keep your workouts interesting, but it will also challenge your body in new ways and help you see better results.
Be honest to yourself
There are times when you will feel exhausted and have absolutely no power to get up and workout. At these moments be honest to yourself if this exhaustion is just laziness or indeed you need a day off from training. Whatever the reason may be try this trick: wear you workout clothes and do your exercise for just 10 minutes. If you are really physically exhausted you will stop at ten minutes, if not the probability is that you will keep going.
Play tricks with your mind
One of my tricks to get on the treadmill is that I have certain tv programs that I only watch on the treadmill. So obviously, I pick my favourites and this is an incentive to get myself off the couch and on the treadmill to watch an episode. Another trick that you can use, is the set up of a piggy bank. Do you fancy new clothes or new gear for your workouts? Work for them to get it. After each work out, put money in the piggy bank according to your workout effort. This will keep you motivated to go the extra mile.
Celebrate Your Progress
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your progress along the way. Even small victories, like running for an extra five minutes or lifting a heavier weight, are worth acknowledging and celebrating.
Reward yourself for sticking to your workout routine, whether it’s with a massage or a cheat meal. Celebrating your progress will help you stay motivated and committed to your fitness goals over the long term.
In conclusion, establishing a consistent workout routine can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. By setting realistic goals, scheduling your workouts, finding an accountability partner, mixing up your workouts, and celebrating your progress, you can stay on track and achieve your fitness goals. Remember, consistency is key, so keep at it and don’t give up.
