Sticking to an exercise routine can be very challenging, especially when life gets busy and your motivation starts fading in a big way.
However, when you have the right strategies in place you can maintain consistency and even enjoy long-term health benefits over time. Here are several ways to ensure that you stick to your exercise routine.
Set Realistic Goals
One of the most effective ways that you can stay consistent with your exercise routine is to make sure that you are setting achievable and realistic goals at the same time. You need to start by defining what you want to achieve whether it’s weight loss, or if you simply want to maintain your current fitness level.
If you aim to lose 20 pounds you can focus on losing 2 lb at a time and this can make more attainable as it keeps you motivated so you can hit those smaller milestones.
Create A Schedule
Planning ahead is the key to making sure that you are sticking to your routine no matter what. Exercise is no different; you have to treat your workouts like they are an important appointment. You should block off time on your calendar for your exercise.
Be it 30 minutes each morning or an hour in the evening you have to be consistent in your timing.
This also prevents you from falling into that trap that says you can fit in your workout whenever you have time. If you do this you’re going to often have several missed sessions. Having someone to assist you on your fitness journey can help keep you on the correctt path, consider personal training to help you with this.
Start Small And Build Gradually
One of the main reasons people get burnt out is that they start off too aggressively. If you’re new to working out it’s going to be better for you to have shorter, less intense sessions.
You can gradually build up overtime when you become more comfortable. When you start overdoing things it is going to lead to burnout, or even injury very quickly. This will make it less likely that you will want to continue. When you start small you’re going to build your way up and this ensures that you establish something that you can sustain over time.
Find A Workout You Enjoy
The best way to ensure that you stick to your exercise routine is to make it less of a chore. To maintain your motivation it’s going to be critical that you find something that you actually enjoy doing.
If you don’t like running then try cycling or swimming instead. If the thought of going to the gym makes you just want to sit back and grab potato chips then that means it’s not appealing to you. Explore group fitness classes or even home workouts because these will be more effective and fun for you to help you stick to your routine for the long term.
Taking care of your body through exercise is important for your health. It’s no secret that sticking to a routine can be no picnic and you have to find ways to make it happen. Use these tips to get the job done.