Ever wonder why it’s so difficult to keep a fitness routine? Discipline. Most importantly, people often start from where they want to go, as opposed to working towards that goal gradually. Think of it this way. Moving 6 cartons of baked beans at once looks daunting. However, moving it one after the other looks a lot more doable.
This is the principle to apply to a fitness routine. At Inside Success, we help you break down complex goals into very simple steps. Here are steps to take to build a fitness routine you’d actually keep.
1. Start Small
The hardest part of a routine is starting. Once you start, you can continue. Starting often looks too difficult because people often want to go straight to where they wish to be. Instead of starting with strenuous 2-hour workouts everyday, why not start with 30 minutes?
Do 30 minutes, and maintain it, before you know it, you have a little routine going, and then you can build from there.
2. Building from There
When you get the 30-minute routine going at regular intervals, you now need to start working your way up slowly. Again, don’t go from 30 minutes to 2 hours instantly. Your body won’t be able to adjust that quickly, and it’d work against you.
Instead, when you establish a 30-minute routine, move to 45 minutes or one hour. Do that for a consistent period of time. You should always establish the routine first, before stepping it up.
3. Remember that Consistency is More Valuable than Intensity
It’s better to have consistent workouts, even if they are 10-15 mins, than to have one 2 hour workout once in two weeks. Don’t make the mistake of prioritizing intensity, as tempting as that may be.
When you build the consistency, you build the discipline, and with that discipline then comes the intensity you want. But it’s a process, and you shouldn’t put the cart before the horse, otherwise you won’t get anywhere…literally.
4. Plan for Days You Can’t Workout
Working out is for your own good, not a punishment. This means on days you really don’t feel up to it, pushing yourself through may be good for discipline, but it may hurt you more than it helps you.
This is why it’s good to plan for those days. Do some low-energy activities that can serve as workouts too. Like taking a light walk or run. A 5-minute walk counts as a successful workout too. The trick, of course, is not to let that backup for bad days become the norm.
5. Find the Activity You Love
Remember that everyone has a different goal for working out. This goal will determine what kind of workouts you get into. Find the activity you love. It’s easier to build discipline and consistency if you love the thing you’re doing.
Try hiking, cycling, strength-training, and other types of workout. Pulling weights is not the only way to build fitness.
6. Find a Workout Partner
Having someone who has the same or similar goals as you will help keep you centered when it becomes challenging. Find a workout partner, who can also be an accountability partner. The person is not there to bully you into working yourself to the bone. A workout partner is simply there to encourage you when you need it. And trust me, you will need it.
Conclusion
Many people aren’t kind to themselves, and so when they break a routine, they beat themselves up. Some think that being unmotivated is a sign of unseriousness. It’s not. It shows you’re human.
Discipline doesn’t demand that you don’t get tired or feel unmotivated, it demands that you show up despite that. Building a fitness routine can be hard, but only if you go about it the wrong way. Starting small is the first step. Once discipline is built, you can take it from there, but first things first.
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