While many people have an idea of what they’d like their exercise routine to look like, following through can be tough. It’s easy to find excuses and ways to put off the demanding work required. Even when well-meaning individuals push themselves to start, it’s often not long before they fall back into old habits. Luckily, personal trainers like Eugenio Pallisco have discovered simple yet effective ways to become more consistent with an exercise routine.
Apply Pallisco’s tips and tricks consistently, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your fitness goals.
Set a Variable Schedule
Now that you have a weekly workout routine, it’s important to keep things fresh. If you do the same thing every day and then get sick of it, your motivation will plummet faster than a bowling ball dropped from the top of Mount Everest. To avoid this fate, set up a variable schedule that includes different workouts each week or month. Don’t be afraid to mix things up.
For example, you could prioritize cardio during the week by running or participating in a group sport and lifting weights on the weekends. The possibilities are endless. Even if you run most days, change where you run for added variety: run in your neighborhood, in a local park, or on a track at a school.
Nobody likes doing the same exercise routine day after day, so why not try something new? It’ll give you something else to look forward to instead of getting bored. Plus, you can find tons of YouTube videos with various workouts. Try doing a different exercise each day in front of your television screen. You can’t beat that for convenience, and it’s free.
Make It a Habit
It would help if you made exercise a priority, so it’s not something you have to force yourself to do. Instead, think about how you can integrate it into your daily routine. You take the dog for a walk every day at 5:30 a.m. and ensure you get in a workout before grabbing your morning coffee. Or maybe your walking commute takes 30 minutes each way from home and work. If you run on the treadmill while listening to music or audiobooks, this becomes an easy way to fit exercise into your schedule. Exercise time becomes learning time, too. The key is to incorporate it into your schedule and daily life.
Create an Environment of Accountability
Eugenio Pallisco’s Pro Fitness Tip: Consider wearing a fitness tracker.
These handy devices track all sorts of data, like the steps you take and calories burned. Some even have GPS capabilities that allow you to map out your routes in the app so that it can suggest suitable alternate ways for the next time when you’re finished. The more accurate information you have, the more you can fine-tune your workout, the more motivated you’ll be, and the better results you’ll get.
Find Your Why
One of the most important things you can do to make your exercise routine stick is to find a reason for doing it. This could mean something as simple as not wanting to gain weight or get winded or something more complex like becoming healthier so you can be an example for your children. Whatever the reasons, write them down and keep them visible. When times are tough and exercising seems impossible, you’ll look at this list and be reminded why staying motivated is essential.
Exercise is Medicine for Your Body and Mind
Knowing the benefits of exercise and reminding yourself of those also will help you be more consistent with working out. Some of the best benefits are those you feel immediately, such as increased energy, a better mood, and improved sleep. As you exercise, you’ll also notice your mind and spirit improving; those benefits are just as significant as the physical ones. There’s also evidence that exercise improves focus, creativity, and memory. Think how helpful it would be to get these added rewards.
There are many reasons to have a fit, healthy body; physical attractiveness is only one. Other reasons include living longer with greater vitality than ever, having better relationships with friends/family members due to increased self-confidence, feeling happier, and more.
Accommodate Your Schedule but Be Flexible
Flexibility is the key to being more effective with your exercise routine. If you know that you must be home by 10 p.m. on certain nights, don’t schedule an 8 p.m. workout class. It’s important to accommodate your schedule and make it work for you.
If possible, exercise should be a habit that is part of your daily life, not something that sits on the fringes or gets crammed in between other activities. But if that’s the only way you can get a workout, so be it! The key is to do it.
Tap Into the Power of Human Accountability, Too
Accountability is also crucial for consistency. Beyond fitness trackers, it’s important to have human accountability as well. Let others know about your fitness goals. Participate in forums and Facebook groups where people post their exercise goals and follow their progress. Share your own objectives, frustrations, and triumphs, and stay connected with other people with similar goals. When you want to give up, look to those people for support.
If possible, find a friend or workout buddy who can accompany you on your journey. While some might prefer to exercise alone, having at least one person hold you accountable for your actions and help you stick with the program is essential.
Pallisco’s Final Thoughts
Now you know how to be more consistent with your exercise routine. Working out can become a chore, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It doesn’t even have to be boring. Keeping things flexible and making exercise part of your life can ensure you always stay on track. Make physical fitness part of your life!
About Eugenio Pallisco
Eugenio Pallisco is a well-rounded personal trainer dedicated to helping his local Texas community get and stay fit. His expertise is extensive and ranges from high-intensity cardio workouts to traditional weightlifting. As a result, he creates holistic exercise programs to elevate his clients’ fitness journeys, whether implemented in-person or online.
