We’ve all fallen off the wagon at some point in our resolve to keep fit. There’s always going to be a number of excuses to get you out of gym time – workload, falling ill, bad weather, appointments and the list goes on. Ironically, working out is the best picker upper and de-stressor. Instead of getting a get well soon card because of failing health due to accumulated stress, you’ll have the perfect outlet for your frustrations.
So how do you form a workout habit? Here are some of the secrets to being consistent with your workout routine.
Form a fitness group
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn
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This is where peer pressure and social comparison play a positive role. When you surround yourself with people who are equally determined to lead a healthier and active lifestyle, it will encourage you to push yourself to attain that lifestyle. Sharing an activity also promotes an incentive to socialize while getting into shape at the same time. There’s also a bit of healthy competition at play when you see the progress of your peers. You don’t want to be the one left behind, right?
Morning workouts are the best
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Early mornings are generally the best time to squeeze in a quick jog or swim or whatever is your choice of exercise. This is the time when you are not yet burdened with work, and the environment and climate are pleasant enough for an uninterrupted workout. It clears your head and pumps up the adrenaline to get you geared up for a full day ahead. After-work workouts can be tricky as you never know when an urgent request would arrive at your desk or a meet-up with friends would come up. Unforeseen circumstances together with fatigue from work are the perfect impetus for an excuse to break a routine.
Invest in apparel and equipment
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Looking the part may be pretentious to some, but with enough gumption and determination, we become whom we pretend to be. At least that’s the hope. Investing in apparel and fitness equipment can actually motivate us to follow through with our goals. Looking the part pushes us to act the part. Investing also takes quite a bit of your hard-earned money, so it will be a shame if you don’t put them to good use.
Set goals
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It can get repetitive, that’s why it’s called a routine. To break the monotony, set goals for yourself to get that extra kick of satisfaction. Set personal records so you know when you’re progressing or lagging behind. Join marathons, runs, amateur competitions, or if you’re completely committed – join a triathlon. All the hard work pays off once you cross that finish line. Even if you’re not aiming for the athlete status, it is a unique experience that should be experienced by anyone committed to physical fitness.
Create a ritual
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Rituals allow you to ease into an activity. For example when we are ready to sleep, we take a shower, brush our teeth, change into our pajamas, and so on. In the same way, a fitness routine can be created to signal the beginning of your exercises. Once the alarm rings at a designated time and you get out of bed, the visual cues can be your training suit or your gym bag to lead you into your way to the fitness centre. You can work music into the routine to get you more amped up.
Be consistent
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We’ve all heard the saying “It takes 21 days to form a new habit.” However, what’s not being said is that you need to continue after that. Once you hit the 21st day mark, don’t be complacent. Sure, it gets easier to go through the motions and you’ve probably built up enough stamina and endurance to power through your workouts, but once you stop for a period of time, you have a lot of catching up to do. It’s all a matter of motivation and discipline – both of those come from your own drive. At the end of the day, outside of all external motivations and incentives, the personal will to become better is the litmus test for success or failure.
