Fitness: How to *Really* Commit to Your Fitness Routine 2

 

How to Make Time for Exercise

You've probably heard that you should schedule your workouts beforehand, and there's a reason this advice is so popular. Though it might seem a bit overkill to make an exercise schedule for yourself, it works. "Lay out your weekly schedule on Sunday evenings," suggests Anna Victoria, a NASM-certified personal trainer and creator of the Fit Body Guides. "Write down your top priorities: school, work, family and friend obligations. Then, see where you have 30 to 45 minutes to fit in a workout and write it down as though it's a meeting with yourself. Remember that 'your' time is just as important as that time you spend with family and friends," she adds. (Look what happens when you prioritize self-care for a week.)

Half the effort of fitting workouts into a busy schedule is looking for those time slots when it's possible for you to exercise, and the other half is prioritizing it over other ways you could spend your free time. "Most people have extra time, they just need to find a place to carve it out," says Howe. "Maybe it's spending less time on social media, skipping that evening TV show, or prepping meals ahead of time so you don't need to worry about cooking. If it's a priority, you can find the time." Plus, you don't necessarily need to give up QT with friends, family, or your significant other in order to get your sweat on. Finding a workout buddy or "accountability partner" can make your workouts not only more fun, but also more frequent. "Sometimes your own will just isn't enough, but if you know you have someone counting on you, you'll be much more likely to go," says Victoria. "And with us all having busy lives, it can be a great way of keeping in touch with a friend you may otherwise not have a lot of time to spend with."

Goal-setting can also be a useful tool. "Set a two-month goal and try to make working out a pattern," recommends Stone. "Small goals will give you more confidence to stick to your routine long-term." Your overall goal might be six months or a year away, but having a shorter-term goal, like heading out for a run three times per week for the next two weeks, can make the process of getting where you want to be more fun and less daunting. Allow yourself those small wins.

Lastly, you'd be hard-pressed to find a fitness pro who won't suggest a morning workout for anyone with a jam-packed schedule. "My suggestion is to go to bed early and get up before life gets crazy," says Nikki Warren, the co-CEO and founder of Kaia FIT. You may feel tired at first, but give it time. Exercising builds your immune system, gives you energy, and boosts your mental focus—not just the hour you're working out but also throughout the day." (For more on how to make early a.m. workouts doable, here's how to trick yourself into becoming a morning person.)

 

How to Stick With It

Once you've made it to your goal number of fitness days each week, you've got to make sure your routine is sustainable. The number-one way to do that, according to Howe, is to always build in rest days. "I take Mondays off every week," she says. "It's a nice way to reset and prepare for the week ahead." She also says that following hard workout days with less difficult days can make things easier. "Creating some different stressors (varying your workouts) in your weekly routine, including rest and recovery, will result in even further fitness gains," she adds. And ultimately, it's all about the #gains, right? Whether they're physical, mental, or performance-oriented, those results and benefits are *so* much more attainable when you're committed to a regular routine.
Credit: Shape