Make Your Gym Habit Stick (Three Tips)
I used to be a gym rat. I didn't go every day, but I went several times a week and I stuck to my routine. After a summer spent outside, dedicated to my running goal, and a fall spent getting and getting over a respiratory infection.... I fell out my gym habit, hard.
My schedule no longer had regular gym days built in, and I lost interest in some of the classes I used to attend religiously. In December, I was finally able to re-instate my healthy habits, and--so far--I'm meeting my January goal of three workouts weekly. For this reason, I thought it's the perfect time to discuss ways that I manage to stick to my gym habit, and how you can, too.
Maybe YOU set a new year's resolution to go to the gym more often, try a new type of exercise class, or become a runner. Whatever your commitment is, here are some tried and true ways to ensure you meet your fitness goals:
Make Your Gym Habit Stick
with These 3 Tricks:
1. Schedule Your Workouts in your Calendar.
Treat your workouts--whether it's a solo run, a group fitness class, or a buddy gym session--like any other appointment: Write it in your calendar. This changes your gym trip from an optional leisure-time activity to a no-excuses commitment. If someone wants to make plans at that time, don't feel bad about asking for a different date or time. If your exhaustion or sniffles wouldn't have been enough to keep you home from a work meeting or a date, then they shouldn't keep you home from the gym, either.
2. Prepare Your Bag Ahead of Time
For many, the hardest part of getting to the gym is simply getting ready. Although it's not difficult to put clothes and sneakers on, it's often the biggest thing that prevents me from simply getting up and getting out the door.
If you work out in the morning straight from home, prepare the night before: lay out one complete gym outfit, visible and ready to wear. That way, in the morning, you'll get up and before you're even aware of it, you'll be dressed and ready to go.
If you're like me and need to pack a bag to hit the gym after work, prepare that bag the night before, too. Pack your complete gym outfit, your sneakers, a lock, headband, water bottle, and any other supplies you need for the gym. Have the bag all set and ready to go and leave it right by your front door. When you head out in the morning and bring it with you, that's your commitment gears in motion.
After carrying around the bag all day, you're bound to follow through and go, right?
3. Create Accountability
This one's huge. Don't just commit to yourself to go; make your commitment known to others! By letting others know about--or having others rely on--your intention to hit the gym, you'll feel compelled to follow through! Even if it's late after a long day of work, there are several ways to create accountability that will get you into the gym:
My schedule no longer had regular gym days built in, and I lost interest in some of the classes I used to attend religiously. In December, I was finally able to re-instate my healthy habits, and--so far--I'm meeting my January goal of three workouts weekly. For this reason, I thought it's the perfect time to discuss ways that I manage to stick to my gym habit, and how you can, too.
Maybe YOU set a new year's resolution to go to the gym more often, try a new type of exercise class, or become a runner. Whatever your commitment is, here are some tried and true ways to ensure you meet your fitness goals:
Make Your Gym Habit Stick
with These 3 Tricks:
1. Schedule Your Workouts in your Calendar.
Treat your workouts--whether it's a solo run, a group fitness class, or a buddy gym session--like any other appointment: Write it in your calendar. This changes your gym trip from an optional leisure-time activity to a no-excuses commitment. If someone wants to make plans at that time, don't feel bad about asking for a different date or time. If your exhaustion or sniffles wouldn't have been enough to keep you home from a work meeting or a date, then they shouldn't keep you home from the gym, either.
2. Prepare Your Bag Ahead of Time
For many, the hardest part of getting to the gym is simply getting ready. Although it's not difficult to put clothes and sneakers on, it's often the biggest thing that prevents me from simply getting up and getting out the door.
If you work out in the morning straight from home, prepare the night before: lay out one complete gym outfit, visible and ready to wear. That way, in the morning, you'll get up and before you're even aware of it, you'll be dressed and ready to go.
If you're like me and need to pack a bag to hit the gym after work, prepare that bag the night before, too. Pack your complete gym outfit, your sneakers, a lock, headband, water bottle, and any other supplies you need for the gym. Have the bag all set and ready to go and leave it right by your front door. When you head out in the morning and bring it with you, that's your commitment gears in motion.
After carrying around the bag all day, you're bound to follow through and go, right?
3. Create Accountability
This one's huge. Don't just commit to yourself to go; make your commitment known to others! By letting others know about--or having others rely on--your intention to hit the gym, you'll feel compelled to follow through! Even if it's late after a long day of work, there are several ways to create accountability that will get you into the gym:
- Find a Gym Buddy: Make plans with a friend to go to the gym together. You'll be counting on each other, so you'll think twice before backing out on your fitness plan.
- Make Your Intention Known: Let others know that you're planning to go to the gym today. Tell your spouse, roommate, coworker... whoever will listen! Make it known that you intend to go, so that when the time comes to either head to the gym or head home, you head to the gym.
- Sign Up for Something: By signing up for either group fitness classes or personal training sessions, you'll be creating the same sense of commitment -- and often an actual commitment -- that will ensure you make it to the gym.
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Those are three tricks that have worked for me -- have they worked for you? What advice might you add for gym newbies?
If you're starting up or reviving YOUR gym habit, dare you to give these tricks a try and let me know how it goes!!
