10 Tips For Consistency With Your Workouts

How often have you heard or made comments like:

 ‘I used to visit the gym’

‘I used to run and work out’

‘I used to follow a workout app’

We all start workout routines with good intentions and hopes for a lifestyle change, but majority fail to keep up because they are unable to build consistency.

Just like forming any new habit, starting and maintaining a new workout routine requires consistent practice.

How then do you ensure consistency?

By making your plans easy to execute and interesting. Try these 10 tips to help you build consistency:  

• Plan it out:

Writing down your goals and workout routines. Being able to read them makes it a bit more real.

Be sure to stick, paste or note your goals somewhere you can review them regularly, such as your fridge, mobile phone notes or workout journal

• Prepare ahead:

Ensure your workout clothes and tools are well organized ahead of your workout.

You do not want to get discouraged by searching for the left leg of your trainers when it’s time to exercise.

• Start with a small-time commitment:

There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.

Don’t start off committing to 2 hours of exercise daily as this can get overwhelming. Start with a 10 – 20 minutes commitment and grow from there.

• Buy new workout clothes or gear:

You’ll be motivated to try them out as soon as possible.

• Find a workout partner or an accountability group:

An accountability group/partner will keep you going when your motivation is low. Only ensure you find a serious workout partner and not just a gist buddy.

• Sign up for an event or a challenge:

This is a short-term fix but having a deadline for an event or challenge can be big motivation. Remember to plan for what happens when the challenge is over, so you do not slip back onto old habits.

• Make it enjoyable:

Decide on a variety of exercises you like and switch between them. Also get good playlists to keep you pumped up during your exercise.

• Track your progress:

Can you exercise longer? Are you getting stronger? Do you feel better? Do you have more muscle mass?

Tracking improvements in your body and energy levels will keep you motivated.

• Observe your rest days:

Exercise is you placing your body under stress, observing rest days will help you come back refreshed and determined.

• Maintain a healthy diet:

You cannot out work a bad diet.

Dieting holds a larger percentage of weight loss or general healthy living; the positive impact exercising has on the body can easily be cancelled out by maintaining an unhealthy diet.

Now you know that it takes to become consistent, it’s time to get started!