The new year and New Year’s resolutions are here again. If you’ve promised yourself to start going to the gym or working out regularly, this blog is just for you. Working out doesn’t just become a regular habit overnight—it takes building routines. Here are some tips to help you create a workout routine and keep your workouts consistent.
Get in Shape – Five Tips
A workout routine can't be established without laying the groundwork and planning. It's a good idea to build a solid foundation so that you can stick to your routine for as long as possible. Start building the foundation of your workout routine with these steps:
- Set a goal: Do you want to improve your fitness, lose weight, or are you aiming for a more specific result? Write down your goal so you’ll keep it in mind.
- Create a schedule, or a workout plan. Note in your plan how many days a week you’ll work out and what you’ll do. You can use the Syke Tribe workout app, where you’ll find a variety of workout programs tailored to your goals. These training programs include a gym routine, nutrition guidance, and a 30-day workout plan. Read more and check out the Syke Tribe app here.
- Put your plan into action. Next, mark your workouts on your calendar or decide in advance which days you’ll work out. Stick to your schedule. If you cancel workouts because of other commitments, it will take longer to establish a routine—or you might not be able to establish one at all.
- Make it easier to get to your workouts. Make sure your workout gear—such as clothes, a water bottle, shoes, and other necessary items—is in good condition and appropriate. Pack your gym bag in advance and leave it in the entryway. This way, you’ll be sure to take it with you, and it’ll be easier to head out to your workout.
- Share your plan. Tell others—such as friends, your partner, or your personal trainer—about your goal and your workout plans. This will help motivate you to stick to your goal.
Start building a routine—the three most important steps
Once you have a solid foundation and a workout plan in place, you can start building your routine. Work out according to your plan and keep your goal in mind. Within just a month, you’ll start to notice how much easier it becomes to get to your workouts. Stick to a regular workout schedule by doing the following:
- Keep a level head. Don’t get too carried away and overdo it right from the start, or you’ll end up too sore and have to take a break right away. You can think ahead about what your own pitfalls might be—the things that could disrupt your workout routine or cause you to lose motivation. Once you’re aware of these obstacles, you can better prepare for them. However, if you do fall into a pitfall, look back, learn from your mistakes, and pick up where you left off.
- Checking off a box—what a great feeling. To help you establish a routine, you can use a traditional calendar or various apps, such as Syke Tribe or a fitness watch. It’s easy to log your workouts and results in them. By logging your workouts, you’ll have a better idea of how much work you’ve put in toward your goals and to establish a routine.
- Enlist the help of a personal trainer. With a personal trainer, you can go over your goals and plans. If needed, the personal trainer will create a more detailed workout program tailored to your goals and walk you through the exercises at the gym. If you’d like, you can also work out alongside your personal trainer. Book a free personal training consultation here.
Keep up your routine
Once you’ve established a workout routine, the real work begins: sticking to it. You may still run into some obstacles along the way, so don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. It takes about a couple of months for a workout routine to become a habit. Your patience will definitely pay off in the end.
Once you’ve managed to keep up a regular workout routine for two months, working out is likely already a part of your life and daily routine. Your routine may be interrupted in the future—for example, during summer vacation—but after that, it will be easier for you to get back into your routine and resume regular workouts. If your routine is interrupted for a long time, you can always go back to the beginning and start building a new routine.