How to Stick to Your Exercise Routine

Now that the holidays have died down and you’re getting back into the full swing of your old routine, it might be easier than you think to forget about the promises you made to yourself at the New Year. Building new habits into your old routine may be harder than it seems, and plugging away at them while life keeps interrupting makes sticking to your new exercise regimen more difficult than it was a few weeks ago. 

Don’t worry! Not only are you NOT alone in your endeavor, but it also takes your brain about 21 days to form a new habit. That’s about three weeks, which is why it starts to get harder to keep the promise you made to yourself about working out. 

So, here are a few tips that will help you keep going:

1. Find what works best for you — Just because that super-cool, intense workout looks great doesn’t mean that it’s something you can jump into. Set a goal for yourself that you can attain and that doesn’t squash your time, budget, or physical condition. You can always level up. 

2. Pick something that fits — If you work from eight to five, eat dinner at six, and then go to bed by 10, try to schedule your workout time before you go to work or after dinner, such as a family walk. 

3. Set up a realistic goal map — Set yourself up with a plan of goals that includes an “end goal,” but takes small steps to get there. If you haven’t worked out in five years, training yourself to run a marathon could be an excellent “end goal,” but note that this goal takes time. If you want to run a marathon, set up small goals first, like “run one mile in seven minutes by the end of two weeks.” Continue to map out your goals for the eventual “end goal,” but make sure to enjoy the completion of smaller goals first. It’ll help build your confidence and fuel your dedication.

4. Reward yourself — Once you hit your small benchmarks, it’s great to celebrate with non-food rewards. Buy a book you’ve wanted for a while, watch a movie, take a nap, or do something else that will help you celebrate the progress you’ve made. You can celebrate daily, weekly, or monthly achievements. It’s all up to you.  

5. It’s not all or nothing — Sometimes you’re going to miss a day here and there. That isn’t a cause for giving up altogether. If you miss a day (or three), pick up where you left off when you can. Understand that sometimes life does take precedence, and there will be times of interruption. The long-term goal of living a healthy life can help you remember that a few days of missed exercise doesn’t mean you’re not healthy. It just means that life can get in the way. The important thing is to keep going once you can. 

Use these tips liberally and you’ll find yourself developing those long-term habits you’re aiming for. And if you need help with nutrition goals or a weight loss journey along the way, reach out to us – we’re here to help.