5 Tips to Stay Consistent with Your Workout Routine
Life Gets Busy- 5 Practical Tips to Consistently Work Out
The time has come. You finally signed up for a membership at the gym. You feel ready to hit the weights and get stronger. And then, suddenly, a month has passed, and you still haven't gone to the gym. Then, 6 months goes by. The guilt and overwhelm starts to creep in. Who are you kidding? You definitely don’t have the time to go to the gym. At this point, you might as well cancel your membership.
As a personal trainer and nutrition coach, I consistently talk to people who have a version of this story. If this is you, I promise you are not alone. I get it. It is hard to stay consistent working out. As someone who started their fitness journey in 2014 and who has coached people for years, I know how hard it can be to stick to a workout routine.
In this article, I will go over 5 ways that can help you stay consistent with your workout routine. Of course, you don’t have to do all 5, but these are the most effective ways I have built a routine for myself and my clients.
Tip 1: Schedule Your Workouts
Photo by Anete Lusina
A common problem that I see with clients and hear about a lot is that people don't have the time to work out. And you have also probably heard a lot of fitness trainers say, “We all have the same 24 hours in a day. No excuses.” This can be frustrating to hear because, yes, we do all have the same 24 hours in a day! But, the day of a mother looks very different from the day of a 20-year-old college student. Not only are you responsible for yourself, but you’re also responsible for a bunch of other people. And it probably feels hard to find the time! That’s just the simple truth.
However, throughout my years of being a fitness trainer, I found that it's not necessarily not having time to work out that’s the problem. The problem is that you don’t plan your workout times. Of course, working out can be a challenge if you have a lot going on. It can be hard to fit in a workout routine when you have a job, kids, and extracurricular activities. But the only way to successfully plan your workout routine is to be realistic about your schedule!
So, sit down and look at your calendar. Write it out or make a digital calendar. Include everything! Include your wake-up and bedtimes, your commute to work, your commute to pick up the kids from school. Include the times that you’re cooking and eating dinner. Put everything you do in your calendar.
After you do that, look for gaps in time. Do you have an extra ten minutes in the morning? How are your weekends looking? Maybe you have 30 minutes on Wednesday nights. Those gaps in time are going to be the times that you get your workouts in. It’s also important to note that you do not have to go to the gym for two hours, 5 days a week, to get a good workout in! You can work out for 30 minutes 3 days a week and still get stronger and build muscle.
Dig into your schedule and look at the time that you do have. Treat your workouts like an appointment or a meeting. Put them in your calendar. Remember, any workout-even if it’s 10 minutes-is better than no workout.
Tip 2: Choose the Right Workout Space
Photo by Furkan Elveren
When you are building your workout routine, choose a workout space that fits your lifestyle and your budget. Luckily, there are tons of affordable options these days! Maybe you want to work out at home. That’s great! There are a lot of online programs. Look for a program that aligns with your values. If what the trainer is saying feels icky or unaligned with your values, then find someone else.
Maybe your biggest hurdle is that you have kids at home with you, and you find it very hard to complete a workout. There are now many gyms that offer childcare! So, strap those kids into their car seats and head to the gym that has childcare. Enjoy your hour of alone time while hitting the weights.
After going through your schedule, maybe you found that you need to work out at times that fall outside business hours. Find a gym that is open 24/7! You’d be surprised by how many gyms are 24/7 and give you a code to get in at any time.
Tip 3: Join a Fitness Community
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
Maybe you’re the type of person who likes to work out with other people. There are so many advantages to working out with a group of people. Working out with a group of people can create some accountability, and it can also be very motivating!
A lot of gyms offer group classes at different times of the day. Look for weightlifting group classes or cardio classes. It can be a lot of fun to be around people who have similar goals to you. It can also be great to be around people who encourage and support you. This can make all the difference in the world when you want to stay consistent with your workout routine.
Maybe you’re not interested in going to a gym. Get creative and use the resources that you do have. A lot of online fitness programs also have online communities. Put yourself out there and see if you can connect with people in your area.
Another option is to form your own workout group. Sometimes local areas don’t have a workout group, so it’s up to you to make your own. Reach out to the other mom that you see at the park. Talk to the neighbor down the street. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but step out of your comfort zone and reach out to people. Workout in the park with other moms while your kids play. Go for group hikes in your area. Get creative and create the workout community that you desire.
Tip 4: Join a Fitness Challenge
Maybe you just need something a little extra to keep you motivated. A fitness challenge is a great way for you to build a habit of working out. Or maybe you like a little bit of competition. Look for fitness challenges at your gym or in your online workout community. You can also create your own fitness challenge with your workout community.
30-day challenges are a great way to build a routine. If you want to get back into working out after a break, something shorter, like a 10-day challenge, might be a good way for you to get started moving. The options are limitless.
Not only are fitness challenges a great way to compete with others, but they’re also a great way to compete with yourself and set goals for yourself! And, fitness challenges are a great way to keep track of your accomplishments. After you complete a fitness challenge, you walk away from a fitness challenge feeling proud of yourself. And you also build workout habits that help you stay consistent with your workout routine.
Tip 5: Hire a Personal Trainer (If You Can)
If you want to stay consistent with your workout routine, it might be beneficial to hire someone who can hold you accountable. Or maybe you just want someone to tell you exactly what to do. If it’s in your budget, a personal trainer is always a great option!
A personal trainer will help you stay on track and provide expertise. Not only do they plan the workouts specifically for you and your workout goals, but they hold you accountable and check in with you. You can hire a personal trainer in a gym, or you can find an online personal trainer. Both are good options and depend on what you think will be the most helpful. If you have somebody creating workouts and a routine that is specific to you, it can greatly impact how consistent you are with your workouts.
These are some of the best tips that really will help you stay consistent with your workout routine. Be sure to check out the services that we offer. Not only do we offer group classes, but there are also online coaching options and online programs that are available to you. Click here to schedule a consultation call with us, so we can help you achieve your goals!