How To Make Working Out A Habit

There are so many compelling reasons to workout. It makes you healthier, gives you energy, helps you fight disease and improves your appearance. All those should make you want to get up and do a few deep knee bends, and they do! That is, they do until it’s time to do them. They might keep you focused for a few days, but man is basically programmed not to go out of the way to do additional work. That’s why it’s important to make working out a habit, which are less easy to ignore.

Scheduling is just one way of making your workout a habit.

Many of you have read my previous post about scheduling, one way of making working out a habit, but there are more. One way that many people love is to have a workout partner. Working out with someone else keeps you accountable. You know you’ll be meeting with them, so you’re more apt to do it. It can be a spouse or a friend, as long as it’s someone as dedicated to working out as you. Although, I’ve found that sometimes working out with a friend or spouse who wants to quit can actually be more motivating, because it makes you the person that is holding them accountable.

Start small and work up to bigger and better workouts.

One reason people fail to continue a workout program is they set too high of expectations initially and find the program they outlined too grueling. Go light on the calisthenics at first. Be easy on yourself and focus mostly on form. Alternate between the exercise video and doing other fun types of workouts, like bike riding, dancing or walking. The good news is that you don’t have to exercise a straight thirty minutes to get your workout time. You can break it down to three ten-minute sections with a short rest in between.

Set up your phone with a constant reminder daily.

Whether you use your phone’s alarm or another memo system, reminding yourself daily is important. You don’t have to use technology either. A post-it note on the refrigerator or alarm clock, if you’re a morning exerciser, a note on the car dashboard for those working out after work or wherever you’ll be most likely to see it right before your scheduled exercise time, can be a good incentive and reminder to workout.

• Make sure you have your workout clothing laid out. If you work out in the morning, have them ready to put on, near your bed. If you work out after work, put them on the counter, so they’re the first thing you see when you get home.
• Just start. If you’re really tired, tell yourself you’re only going to do one set of exercises and re-evaluate at that point. Most people find that just getting started is all it takes.
• Give yourself goals. Your goal might be something as simple as doing an entire workout session without hitting pause. Goals don’t necessarily have to be about losing inches or weight.
• Track not only your goals, but the indicators of fitness. Better sleep, clearer thinking, more energy, more strength and endurance and better results for blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and blood sugar.

For more information, contact us today at Jari Love