10 August 2017

Wanting to make exercise a habit and actually doing it are two different things. Changing your behaviour is difficult. Living a new type of lifestyle is hard.

If you can make exercise a habit, then it becomes that much easier!

Here are some strategies that can make it easier to stick with an exercise habit.

Routine

Establishing a suitable routine that is going to fit around your lifestyle is key. If making time to train is an effort you will most likely not stick at it. Look at your week and say – I’m going to train on [DAYS] at this [TIME] and [PLACE].

A little planning goes a long way and if you can stick to this routine for 3/4 months you will notice it just becomes part of your lifestyle (and you may actually miss it on days you cannot go!).

Habit before results
At the beginning what matters most is creating that new routine; rather than the results. If you focus on not missing a workout; making it your habit. Once you become that person who does not miss a workout out, you can increase the intensity and the results will fall into place.

Start out small
Best way to make an exercise habit stick is to start out small. Setting mammoth targets that are unattainable will just reduce motivation, as you may not be seeing progress straight away. Start with smaller achievable goals; I will train 3 times this week, I will run for 5 extra minutes or I will do 2 extra reps and build on that.

Believe in yourself and enjoy it
Turn, ‘I can’t’ into ‘but’. If you think "I can’t do this, but if I do this small change I can", you will find this will conquer those barriers you had set up. Believing in yourself is important; you are your own biggest cheerleader.

Only do workouts you enjoy don’t waste time on activities you dislike. If you don’t want to do it you will make an excuse to skip that day’s workout (and the next day, and the day after that). Pick what you enjoy to do and keep it varied so you don’t get bored.

As Wilhelm von Humboldt said “True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united”.