If you’ve tried and failed to stick to a fitness plan in the past, you may feel like you'll never be the type of person who exercises regularly and enjoys it. Or that you’ll never find the time to exercise in the first place. But getting into a workout habit is possible. Here are some tips that can help.
Choose activities to suit your personality
Before you do anything else, make a list of the activities you enjoy and the environments you like to be in.
For example, are you…
- competitive by nature
- happier when alone
- a team player
- comfortable in a gym or fitness studio
- happier working out at home
- a fan of outdoor activities
- an early riser
- a night owl
Your exercise activities should complement your lifestyle and personality. You can even choose hobby-based activities to keep you interested. If you enjoy doing a particular type of exercise, you’re more likely to make it a habit.
Also, make an effort to change your workouts regularly. You’ll work more muscles – and keep boredom at bay – if you include different activities in your exercise routine.
Set a time
Decide on a time of day to exercise that works best for you, and stick to it. If you've got young kids for example, set your alarm earlier and try a morning exercise routine before they've woken up.
If you don’t set a time, there’s a chance you may put off exercise until you feel more motivated or less tired. And the more often you do this, the harder it will become to turn your workouts into a habit. Why not add exercise into your daily commute to work or the school run?
Start small
When you first try to make exercise a daily habit, your body may not be used to regular workouts. Don’t push yourself too hard as this could lead to burnout, injury or quitting your new exercise regime altogether.
Instead, start slowly and give your body a chance to get used to daily exercise. Aim for 15 to 20 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a day, such as bike riding, brisk walking or a water aerobics class. You should also try to do 2 weekly 10-minute bursts of strength exercises, such as finding some some hilly walks or doing some push-ups, sit-ups or squats.
Make it fun
You’ll find it hard to make exercise a daily habit if you view it as a chore, so make it fun. If you love music, fill your ears with inspiring tunes to keep you motivated while you work out. If you enjoy walking when it’s quiet outside, take advantage of early mornings.
Track your progress
Once your body is used to daily exercise, increase the intensity and length of your workouts. You should aim for 150 minutes or more of moderate aerobic exercise (walking or cycling) or 75 minutes or more of intense aerobic exercise (football or running) every week.
If you’ve taken up walking, track your daily steps to see how your fitness progresses over time. The health benefits of regular exercise may extend to other areas of your life.
Perhaps you struggled with stress or poor sleep before starting your new exercise routine? If so, why not track your stress levels or sleep to identify any change?
Reward your efforts
Exercise takes effort, so reward that effort. If your gym shoes aren’t up to the task, invest in a better pair. Do what you need to do to make your workouts easier and more efficient, then give yourself a treat for sticking to an exercise routine.
Don't be hard on yourself
Life will sometimes get in the way of your daily exercise routine. Illness, family and work commitments all have the power to upset your workout plans. But don’t give up or give yourself a hard time. Just get back to working out as soon as you can.
