I have definitely been slacking off in my exercise routine for the past couple of weeks and am just getting back to working out every day and it feels amazing! Keeping an exercise routine going is one of the hardest parts of working out, but once you have found what works for you and your schedule it does become easier.
Here are 3 things I do to help me keep my exercise routine going strong!
blog.myfitnesspal.com
1. Do An Exercise Routine You Enjoy
Doing an exercise routine that you enjoy will go a long way in helping you continue to workout. This routine could be a video, on Youtube, outside, or even group exercise class at the gym. Whatever it is, don't limit yourself to one type of workout, especially if you do not like it! Take the time to find an exercise routine that you enjoy doing and stick with it.
Now if you are someone who gets bored easily with workouts (like me lol), then find a couple different routines you like and rotate between the workouts. Another way to keep your workouts fresh but enjoyable is to find a fitness instructor you like and then doing a couple of their workouts. In most cases, if you enjoy being with an instructor, whether that is in-person or on a video, you will most likely enjoy more than just one of their workout routines.
Morale of the story? Enjoy your workout! You deserve to love every part of your day, including your exercise. :)
2. Keep Your Workout Short
I know this sounds too good to be true, but keeping your workout short can actually help you make exercising a priority. Keeping your workout to 20 - 30 minutes a day makes it easier to fit into your busy schedule without sacrificing other things like quality time with your family, or having a home-cooked dinner.
The trick to these shorter workouts is to give it all you've got for those 20 - 30 minutes. Pushing your hardest in a short workout can lead to amazing results because you are not wasting any time and you are taking minimal breaks.
Two of my favorite short workouts to do are Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and Total Body Weight Loss Workout from BeFiT. These workouts are challenging but short and workout your whole body! They also show modifications for most of the exercises so you can workout at your own level.
3. Workout at Different Times of The Day
Allowing yourself to workout at different times of the day instead of sticking to one time of day, such as the morning or evening, can help you fit in your workout no matter what is going on in your schedule. By being flexible with yourself, you are giving yourself permission to workout in the afternoon if for some reason you were not able to make your morning workout.
Though having a daily routine is a fantastic way to help us stick to our workout, sometimes this routine can work against us because it creates the expectation that we can only workout at a certain time of day, and if we miss that opportunity we can't workout at all. It is much easier for us to stick to our workout goals if we know that we can "make-up" a workout later on during the day.
I know there are some of us who have such tight schedules that we think if we don't stick to working out in the morning or evening, then we won't be able to workout at all. But, everyone has 15 minutes right? So if you are a crazy busy person and miss your morning workout, try to find just 15 minutes during another part of your day and do something, even if it is a 15 minute walk. Because it is very easy to mentally push aside our workout if we have already skipped its scheduled time for the day.
So don't fall into the trap of skipping your workout just because you couldn't do it at your preferred time of day! Any exercise is better than none and every time you push yourself to workout you are building a habit of good health.
I hope these 3 tips help you keep your exercise routine going strong this summer and motivate you to love your workout!
To health and happiness!
~Hannah
