How to Make Exercise a Part of Your Routine

It’s true what they say about exercise – to be successful, it has to be a part of your lifestyle.     

We’re halfway through the year. How are those new years’ fitness resolutions coming along?   

If you’re like the vast majority of people, there’s a good chance you’ve utterly failed. It’s not the end of the world, but no doubt it’s disappointing in some way. Resolutions are difficult, because they require an abrupt and significant change to your lifestyle, and very few people make any effort to ensure that affected aspects of their life are managed properly.

Lifestyle changes are difficult. They don’t happen overnight – you’re literally changing the way you’ve chosen to live your life. It is a long process, and requires significant effort. It’s important you take steps to make the transition as easy as possible. The more you prepare, and the more effort you put in, the easier it will be to make permanent, lasting change.

Here are our top tips for making exercise a part of your routine.

Do Something You Enjoy

The simplest way to make sure you’re going to stick with something is to do what you enjoy. Nobody likes getting up in the morning to do something they hate. If you hate running, get terrible shin splints and can’t walk for days afterwards, don’t do it. Try something else!

There is a fitness routine that’s right for everyone – it’s just a matter of finding something that works for you. Try a few things out. You might like free weights, machines, long power walks or aerobic classes. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as you’re active and working towards something.

Mix it up and keep some variety in your routine. Trying new things and having fun is a guaranteed way to avoid getting bored. Boredom breeds demotivation, and that is exactly what you want to avoid.

Join a Gym, or Start Classes

If you’re serious about your fitness goals, you need to have the right tools to achieve them. Whatever your requirements are, there’s a chance that any moderately-sized gym can provide you with the tools you need to get there.

Joining a gym is a great way to get into a routine. Show up at the same time every day and work your way through the same sets of exercises, changing it up every couple of weeks to keep things fresh. It’s also a great way to track your progress from week to week, as the equipment is consistent.

Joining a gym is also a great way to get into the right mindset. You’ll be surrounded by other people all with fitness goals of their own. Rather than hanging out with the same group of people who led you to living your previous lifestyle, you can surround yourself with others who are living the lifestyle that you want to pursue.

Group fitness classes are a fast and easy fix for a lifestyle change. Buying a package of classes and committing once a week can quickly incorporate exercise into your routine. It’s relatively simple, and the social aspect of classes and seeing the same people week to week will give you the motivation to continue.

Get Your Friends Involved

Sure, you can make new friends while working out. However, to truly up the ante, get your existing friends involved in your new lifestyle. Don’t feel like you have to carry them – you can’t let people hold you back from your goals.

However, by getting friends involved you can continue to enjoy social time with them while also enjoying the benefits of a new, exercise-oriented lifestyle.

Create a List

This is the most basic tip for anyone who wants to make a change in their life. Create a to-do list of things you’d like to achieve. When you achieve each step of your journey, tick it off. It doesn’t hurt to make a little ceremony out of it. If you’ve lost three kilograms, and that was one of your major goals, then have a celebration!

Ticking things off the list creates an endorphin rush and gives you a sense of satisfaction – rather than promising to do something, like a resolution, you’ve actually achieved it!

Reward Yourself

Better than simply ticking things off a list is an actual, tangible reward. Of course, you need to be careful not to lose sight of your nutrition goals – but a sneaky snack can definitely be a great reward for kicking some goals.

A night out or an afternoon with friends is another simple way to reward yourself that won’t impact too heavily on your fitness goals. Just be careful not to over-indulge!

Monitor Your Feelings

Keep a diary, and after you exercise, make a note of how you feel. Write down how you feel both emotionally and physically, immediately after exercise and once a week. Over time, compare the way you were feeling as you progressed through your exercise routine.

There’s a good chance that you’ll have a noticeable improvement in self-confidence, energy and overall satisfaction with life. There’s nothing more satisfying than smashing fitness goals and giving yourself a regular pat on the back. It can have an awesome impact on your daily life too, particularly if you’re used to feeling tired and lethargic.

If You Fail, Get up and Try Again

During your fitness journey, you will fail. Some people fail more than others. Some people fail more often than they succeed. However, it’s not your failures that define you. It’s what you do after you’ve failed. If you accept your failure, deal with it and rise above it to try again, that is what defines your success.

If, on the other hand, you simply give up because you’ve failed once – then you are definitely a failure. The only way to succeed is to keep moving forward, regardless of what’s in your way.

Never Compare Yourself to Others

Comparing your own situation and your own goals to other people is a fast track to disappointment. You are on your own journey, nobody else’s. The only person you need to be better than is the person you were yesterday.

Making exercise a part of your daily routine can be very difficult. However, if you pull it off, you can live the life you’ve always wanted.