5 Simple Tips To Help You Get Into a Workout Routine
February 7, 2019 Published by admin
“I struggle to stick to a workout routine,” “I struggle to motivate myself to workout” and “I always put my workout off because I can’t motivate myself to do it” are some of the most common statements you will hear from those struggling to follow a workout routine. However, if you look at it scientifically, you will realise that one misses out on a crucial thing by clinging onto the excuse of motivation. In fact, you don’t need any motivation at all, you just need to start taking action, and then continuous action will eventually become a habit, and the habit will take care of your workout. In other words, you just need to get into the habit of working out, while staying away from the “I can’t get motivated” trap.
Here we’ll talk about 5 simple, yet crucial tips that will help you kick-start your fitness journey and remain consistent with it:
1. Block Out a Workout Time
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” No matter how clichéd the statement may sound, but its truthfulness is unquestionable. You want to get into a workout mode? Begin by creating time for it, at least for the next 3 weeks. Why 3 weeks? Because science confirms that it takes 21 days for the brain to wire in and form a new habit. And getting into the habit of working out is what you should strive for!
Once it’s in the diary you are more likely to follow through, as writing it down is a commitment to yourself. Try and pick a time that you can do everyday as this helps form the habit.
Though this is not mandatory, it is always good to work out first up in the morning. Why? Because as the day progresses, we tend to get busier with our work assignments, family chores, social circles etc.; hence, it is always better to do it in the morning so that no other responsibility comes in the way of your workout. In addition to this, morning workout sessions tend to give you more energy to get going all throughout the day and achieve your goals.
2. Prepare Night Before
Remember, our minds are naturally hardwired to escape stress and difficulties. This is the reason why many give up their dreams of being fit because the path to a fit body involves pain, suffering, and discipline. No matter how much we commit ourselves to working out the coming morning, the slightest of inconvenience can become a “reasonably genuine” reason for us to call off the plan.
This is the reason why you must actually prepare the night before. It is important you keep your workout clothes ready so that you put them on straightaway in the morning. Having your clothes ready will act as a trigger that will remind you to exercise and you probably won’t wear anything else. Once you’ve got your gym wear ready in the evening for the next morning, it’ll eliminate another impediment to your workout. If you are not beginning your day by hitting the gym, still pack your gym bag the night before so that it’s ready to go with you and eliminates the excuse of not having enough time to get ready.
3. Keep Your Alarm Clock Out of Arms Reach
Yes, you are not alone! We all are guilty of pressing the snooze button. And why shouldn’t we? When we are in deep sleep, in our comfortable beds, and the jarring alarm shoots off, hitting the snooze button seems to be the most convenient way to deal with it temporarily. Nonetheless, this action is not going to bring us any benefit.
One of the easiest ways to get rid of “hitting-the-snooze-button” practice is to place your alarm clock or mobile phone away from the bed so that you have to get out of your bed to turn it off!
Another trick that may work for you and which also allows for pressing the snooze button is setting the alarm half an hour earlier than when you actually need to get up. This way you can still click on snooze (3 times if you are an iphone user!), not really feel guilty, and be up and awake for your workout.
4. Find a Workout Buddy!
Inconsistency is closely linked to lack of accountability. When we know that we are not answerable to anyone, we tend to become irregular. And this holds true for any work that we do. Therefore, finding a workout buddy or an accountability group is a good way to add an element of responsibility to your workout program.
When you try working out on your own, it can be easy to skip a day or just not start at all. Whereas when you commit to sweating it out with someone else or a group of people, it’s harder to back out because now you will not just be letting yourself down, you will be disappointing someone else too. Try and find a workout buddy or group that is already following a routine; this way, they will be able to guide you and motivate you to keep going and you will be less likely to quit as your partners will already be habituated to the whole thing.
5. Turn Your Home Into a Workout Zone
Working out at home eliminates a lot of barriers. First, it takes less time; you don’t have to fight the traffic to get to the gym and come back. You can do your workout within 30 mins instead of taking 2 hours, thereby giving yourself time to focus elsewhere. It’s also cheaper to work out at home; you don’t spend money on transport, there is no risk of buying an unhealthy snack or drink from the gym café, saving you money and additional calories you’d have to burn off!
Working out at home also gives you more opportunities in a day to achieve this objective!
To sum it all up, one should develop a habit of working out instead of just looking for motivation. The above 5 points, if followed to a nicety, will help you incorporate your workout into your daily routine.
