April 21, 2021
Starting a new workout program and staying consistent can be one of the biggest challenges for many people. There are many different options for keeping active, and learning how to incorporate new workouts into your week can be a challenge. Check out the suggestions below for some ideas.
Tips for Adding More Workouts to Your Schedule
Plan Your Week in Advance
One of the most important things to do when moving your body is plan out your workouts each week. Treat it like an hour out for coffee with a friend that you can’t cancel. What days will you work out? How long will your workouts be? What time of day will you be working out? Write them out in your calendar for the week ahead, so you don’t get stuck planning a workout at the last minute, which never works out.
Set SMART Goals
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely
Now I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve seen this acronym, but have you ever sat down and thought about your goals and how you want to achieve them? Decide on a specific goal that meets all the SMART requirements, and make sure to write it down somewhere where you will see it every single day. Make sure to also set times to review the goals so you can make any necessary changes.
Find an Accountability Partner
Find someone with similar goals to you, so both of you will be accountable for your workouts. Having someone else that is going through the same thing can make all the difference when starting a new routine.
Try Out a Few Different Workouts
There are so many different options when it comes to the type of workouts you could do. Spend some time doing a little research on what sparks your interest. It could be anything running, yoga, Pilates, HIIT, strength training—the list is endless. Find some options that you like, and having a little variety is key to keeping your workouts consistent.
Write it Down
This tip might be one of the most important! Not just writing down when and where, but how did it make you feel? Do you feel better when you do yoga in the evening before bed versus first thing in the morning? Do you love HIIT workouts? Keep track of how the workouts are going and how you feel. This is especially important at the start of the program so you can make any adjustments as you go along.
Start a Challenge
There is nothing more satisfying than completing a challenge and crossing off the date on the calendar! Have a look at the goals you set for working out. Can you do a month-long challenge to keep yourself motivated or challenge yourself to run your first 5k or 10k? A challenge is also an excellent option for accountability partners.
There are plenty of options for getting your body moving each week, and the trick is consistency and taking it one step at a time.
