6 Tips for a workout routine that sticks
You want to lose weight, increase your energy, boost your mood, and improve your overall health. You know that incorporating exercise into your life is the way to go. But despite countless attempts at getting fit, you just can’t seem to stick to it. Here are some tips to help get you motivated.
1. Start small.
Making lifestyle changes is never easy, and fitness can be especially daunting. Don’t be discouraged! According to Stevenson Fitness, doing 10 minutes of exercise every other day is a great start. “When it comes to fitness, 10-minute sessions to the non-exerciser can act like a gateway drug.” Before long, you’ll have developed a healthy addiction!
2. Do something you love.
The word “exercise” often conjures images of treadmills, elliptical trainers, and kettle bells. While some people swear by their regular gym routine, it’s just not for everyone. Fortunately, there are lots of fun activities that will get you moving – consider bike-riding, dancing, indoor rock climbing or bouldering, hula hooping, or boxing!
3. Create a measurable goal.
It’s almost impossible to accomplish anything without a clear goal. Without one, how will you know when you’ve reached the finish line? According to the Australian Fitness Academy, “Having a goal and writing it down somewhere you can check it helps you to plan what you need to do to achieve it.” Having short-term goals is great for motivation, as they can give us boosts of satisfaction each time we check one off the list and move onto the next.
4. Be accountable.
Speaking of goals, you’re going to need someone to keep you on track. An accountability partner is someone who will help you identify your goals and make sure you’re focused on achieving them.
While choosing an accountability partner is up to you, it’s best not to choose a friend. Although your best buddy surely wants to see you succeed, they’re also more likely to go easy on you in order to maintain your friendship. Find someone you know will be honest with you and won’t let you slack off!
5. Use a Fitness Tracker.
If finding a partner isn’t your cup of tea, try using a fitness tracker to keep you on the straight and narrow. Ranging from a simple clip-on pedometer to a smartphone app, a tracker will show you how much exercise you’re getting in a day – you may be overestimating! Fitness trackers provide a clear starting point and can be an enjoyable way to increase your activity as you try to take a few more steps or burn more calories than the day before.
6. Focus on that post-workout feeling.
When you’re feeling unmotivated, it’s easy to focus on excuses to keep you from exercising. Maybe you’re tired after a long day at work, stressed about an upcoming project, or just feeling a little down. Although those might seem like good reasons to skip the workout, they’re actually perfect reasons to get off your couch and start moving. Getting some exercise – even just going for a walk – releases endorphins and BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), two stress-fighting chemicals, leaving us feeling happier afterwards. Read more about your brain on exercise here.
Try out some of the tips above and before long, you’ll be enjoying the countless mental and physical benefits of an exercise routine you can stick to!