6 Tips to Help You Stick to a Workout Routine

Exercise is a huge part of my life. For me, working out is an essential part of a cycle that leads to greater health and overall happiness —> I eat foods that nourish my body so that I can be stronger in my workouts…I am able to “hang” during the toughest of workouts because those foods fuel my body. I am a better, stronger person both mentally and physically when I sweat and get my heart rate up.

Basically, what I am trying to say is, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don’t shoot their husbands.” (Name that classic movie!)

Travis did not approve of that line at all…he didn’t realize that me exercising was keeping him alive. Moving on…

Today, I have 6 tips that I hope will help you start and stick to a workout routine.

1. Find something that you LOVE.  This is at the top of the list for a reason. You are 100% more likely to make it happen if you are excited for the activity, whatever it may be. Maybe you love being able to walk or run outside in nature. Maybe you love a good Bootcamp or Spin Class. People are are all about Orange Theory and Barre right now.  For me, it’s Crossfit that keeps me coming back for more. If you haven’t found your jam yet, keep trying new things. You’ll be forever grateful that you didn’t give up!
2. Once you find the program or activity that works for you, make a plan/schedule and stick to it. Usually, at the beginning of each week, I set a goal for how many days that week I know I can realistically get my workout in. Are you traveling? Is your work schedule changing? It may be 3 days, it may be 6, and some weeks might be better than others. Regardless, set a number and don’t let yourself off the hook. I can tell you in 100% honesty that I don’t feel like working out every day. My alarm goes off just when I have finally gone into a deep sleep and all I want to do is hit snooze. But I have followed step #1 and know I will be happy once I get to the gym, and even happier when it’s over!
3. Once your weekly plan in in place, start setting small, realistic goals for yourself. For example, if you are starting with 3 workouts a week, try increasing that number 1 day at a time. If your goal is weight loss, start with small increments so that you feel successful! If you want to get stronger, set attainable goals for heavier weightlifting. Whatever your goal is, start small and relish in any bit of success. One of my favorite fitness quotes goes something along the lines of “Even the slowest runner is lapping the person sitting on the coach.” No matter how small a victory may seem, the important thing is that you are doing SOMETHING.
4. Find the time of day that works best for you. For most, this will either be before or after work. Maybe you know you are only going to have 30 minutes to spare during your child’s nap time. Carve out that time out of the day and do your best not to let anything interfere. Through a lot of trial and error, I have found that there is about a 0% chance I will make it to the gym after work. I make a million excuses throughout the day to tell myself I don’t have to go. Plus, I am physically exhausted after working all day and my workouts suffer. If I get up and go the second I start my day, it is over before my brain even knows what hit it. Yes, that means I am up at 5:30 and then rushing off to work, but dang, it feels good that I’ve already accomplished so much before breakfast.
5. Something that may seem small, but helps me immensely: Lay out your clothes or pack your gym bag the night before so there’s one less thing to derail you. Logistically, this just helps get you out the door faster (especially at 5:30am). But there is also a deeper reason. By choosing what you plan to wear to the gym the night before, you are sending yourself the message that “This is happening.”
6. Find a workout partner. I know I’ve heard this tip a lot, but I really do think it is helpful. Of course, there’s the whole accountability thing. But, even more so, working out can become a social event if you’re doing it with a friend or loved one! When I asked Travis if he had any pointers on “how to stick to a workout routine,” he had one simple response: “Marry someone who is in a workout routine.” He was being a bit facetious, but he made a darn good point. Going to the gym with Travis in the morning is one of the only chances I’ll have all day to interact with him, so it is another motivating factor to make sure it happens.

I hope that these tips help you set yourself up for success. There is no “trick” or “secret” to being healthy and fit. It comes down to Just.Doing.It. even when you don’t feel like it. Motivation is important, but it is temporary; it comes and goes. The key is discipline and staying honest with yourself, your goals, and your commitment to overall health.