Consistency in Your Workout Routine

We’re about a month into 2021 now. Chances are the honeymoon phase with your new year exercise resolution is coming to an end. It’s getting a little bit harder to roll out of bed for your early morning workout or heading straight home to binge-watch your favorite Netflix show is starting to sound a lot better than making the extra effort to move your body. I get it. I have been there and done that. Motivation is not a constant, sometimes motivation doesn’t

come until you’re already doing the activity or maybe not at all that day. The key is to find ways to still fit in exercise even when you’re not feeling motivated.

Over the years, I’ve acquired a few tools that keep me going even when it seems my couch is calling my name.

1. Have your weekly workouts pre-planned. I’ve figured out over time that if I take 20-30 minutes before the new week starts to plan out my workouts, I’m more likely to follow through with them. Pre-planning takes the thinking out of it later. If you’re drained from work one night, it’s going to be a lot easier to fit in your exercise if you know exactly what it is you’re going to do instead of forcing your already tired brain to figure it out on the spot. Check the weather so you know good days to run, plan your gym workout or pre-plan that game of tennis at the beginning of the week and think of it like a date with yourself you can’t miss and most importantly, make sure it’s something you enjoy!

2. Keep a Consistency Calendar. This one is something I just started a few years ago and it is one of the most helpful tools I have. A Consistency Calendar is used for recording anything you want to become consistent at. For me, I record my daily meditation times, daily movement and reading times. Then you hang it somewhere you’ll have to look at it every day. Once you’re consistent a few days in a row, you’re not going to want to break the chain and it’s a nice visual reminder of how you’re doing in pursuit of your goals.

3. Allow rest days. Rest days are just as important as active days. The amount of rest days is all up to what works for you. For some people, maybe they need a rest day every other day and for others, they may only want one rest day a week. Don’t feel pressured to workout 6 days/week just because someone else is. Be kind to your body and listen to what it needs. If you do this, you’ll find that these rest days will give both your brain and body a break, leaving you more motivated to get back at it the next day.

A combination of exercise and eating a healthy diet give our bodies what it needs to perform at its peak performance every day. When our bodies perform at their best, it spills over into other areas of our life: more energy, better sleep, more creativity at work and reduces stress on our bodies and minds. Who wouldn’t want that?

~Bri Edwards, Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach