Small Habits to Make Your Workout Routine Consistent
Working out is hard. Mustering up the will to work out is even harder. Many of us engage in inconsistent fitness routines throughout our lives because we tend to let life get in the way, making being active less of a priority compared. Between work, social, and familial responsibilities, it can be difficult to squeeze in a set amount of time for fitness and make it a consistent part of your day-to-day.Of course, just because it's difficult doesn't mean it's impossible. With a few tricks here and there, it can be possible to make working out a part of your daily habit. Here are some ways on how you can do just that:
Set the bar low in the beginning.
You don't have to pressure yourself into achieving a fitness goal that is totally unrealistic, especially when you're just starting out. SELF notes that the less confident you are with your goals, the less likely you will abide by the steps needed to make it happen. It is then important to set actual, attainable goals to earn yourself some small yet significant wins. Experiencing success early on is essential as it instills confidence that can snowball into long-term results.
Wear proper workout shoes and clothes.
It may not seem like a big deal, but wearing the right clothes can make a world of difference in how you feel before and after exercise. Sporting proper gear can make you feel better equipped with conquering your workout and if you wear the right material, you'll also be comfortable as you go through your reps. Meditation Talks' guide to choosing workout clothes suggests that you should wear garments that have the ability to wick away sweat, as these can make it evaporate quickly and keep your body cool. Additionally, it would help if you wore clothes that are loose and comfortable and avoid clothing that gets in the way of your routine.As for your shoes, Real Simple underscores how choosing the right athletic shoes is as important as the workout itself. Since the position of your feet while exercising has a direct impact on the alignment of every other part, muscles, and joints of your body – it's best to wear choose ones that work for your exercise, not against it. Web MD suggests looking into footwear that serves a purpose, like those with features like clear inserts, Freon, shock absorption, and more, as those tend to help make you even more comfortable while working out. And when you're comfortable when you break a sweat, it's more likely that you'll want to do it more and more.
Drink coffee before your workout routine.
Many are accustomed to drinking a pre-workout shake before sweating it out, but did you know that coffee is just as great? Very Well Fit notes that the key to boosting your athletic performance can be as easy as firing up the coffee pot and enjoying a cup of joe. This is because coffee can help burn fat and raise energy levels, reduce muscle pain, and enable you to train longer.If you're not too keen on instant coffee, there is a myriad of other options available. Pretty Me's Lean N Green Coffee review suggests opting for green coffee beans, as these contain chlorogenic acid, which helps convert fat and glucose into energy. You can also just choose to drink caffeinated tea if you're not much of a fan of java. Tea, especially green tea in particular, has enough caffeine content to help you burn more calories and fat. What's more, the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that because of the caffeine, it could also boost endurance, strength, speed, power, and jumping performance. By making this part of your morning habit, you'll automatically set your mind up for exercising right after your drink.
Make skipping workouts a conscious decision.
As mentioned in our post on Mindful Movement, it is of utmost importance that you check in with your body as you move it, but it's also as important to check in when you don't want to move it. Sometimes, we tend to skip working out because we didn't get enough rest or we let time get away from us. To mitigate this, NBC News recommends making skipping workout sessions a conscious decision to hold yourself accountable. Make it an active choice instead of letting it happen to you.For instance, you can sleep in your workout clothes or put them on before you leave for work or leave your gym bag within your eyesight so you have to make the choice to leave it be if you decide not to workout. When you have to exert extra effort to not go through with it, you'll be more likely to follow through with your original plans anyway.
Written exclusively for fulcrumfitness.com
Submitted by Stephanie Goodman