Have you ever tried to follow a new workout routine but gave up after a few weeks?

Do you feel like you’ve tried everything you possibly can but still struggle to exercise regularly?

I get it. I used to feel motivated to exercise but then struggle to keep up with it after a few weeks. I even felt discouraged and didn’t want to try again after multiple attempts. I had so many other commitments that I felt frustrated for not prioritising exercise more often.

Maybe you also have a busy schedule and can’t seem to commit to working out consistently. You know exercising is good for you but maybe you need some help to continue your workout routine sustainably.

Below are 5 tips I personally use to help me stick to my morning workout routine for more than 3 years (and counting). These are also great for busy students like yourself and would be especially useful when the semester gets really hectic!

1. Don’t Rely On Motivation Or External Accountability

Motivation doesn’t last, especially in the long run. We all have those days where we just don’t have any mood to exercise. Hence, you cannot solely rely on motivation or whether you ‘feel’ like exercising or not. Instead, accept the fact that when the time comes to workout, you may not feel like it, but you do it anyway. Once you’re in the workout, you may realise that it isn’t so bad. You just need to overcome the initial ‘inertia’ to start the first 1-2 minutes.

Over-relying on external accountability such as having a workout buddy may make things more troublesome. Granted, in the beginning, you might feel less awkward at the gym and have more fun exercising together with your buddy. However, you and your buddy may often have different schedules, which makes it difficult to find a common time for to meet up consistently for more than a month. Sometimes, I even find myself having to motivate both myself and my workout buddy, which gets tiring after a while and we both end up quitting after a month or so.

This is why I workout alone majority of the time. I have myself as my workout buddy, and I honour my commitment to myself to workout when the time comes. If I have someone else joining me, I consider it a bonus. If not, I am still fine with exercising by myself.

2. Work Out At The Same Time Every Day

Scheduling the same time to workout every day eliminates most of the overthinking. This is because I make the decision in advance to workout. Hence, when the time comes, there is no real excuse for me to avoid it. I can’t say that I have something else because there are no other plans during that time anyway.

For example, I schedule my regular workouts at the same time every morning. Right after I get out of bed and wash up, I play a workout video and just do it. I usually do my workouts at home because it doesn’t take long to travel or prepare. Doing my workouts indoors also allows me to have more control over them. (Instead of relying on the weather to decide if I should exercise (outside) or not.)

3. Create Your Own Workout ‘Playlist’

This is not a list of workout music, but a list of workout videos to follow. Having a list ready makes it easier to follow through and start exercising right away.For me, I create a playlist of workout videos on YouTube and usually click on the same few to do first thing in the morning.Some of my favourites are a combination of pilates and dance workouts:

• Blogilates
• The Fitness Marshall
• Saskia’s Dansschool

I have different playlists to suit my varying schedule. Some days I prefer longer or more ‘hardcore’ videos while other days I might prefer a less intense workout or dance routine.

It is best if you make working out as enjoyable as possible. If, after a while, it gets a little boring to keep doing the same few workouts, don’t be afraid to change it up.  However, do try to decide ahead of time which workout you will be doing before the time comes so you avoid giving in to ‘instant reliefs’ and not do the workout altogether.

Varying my exercises also allows me to be flexible and have self-compassion for myself. For example, on days when I feel 0 energy to exercise, I switch it up and go for a walk or do some stretches instead of not moving my body at all.

4. Regularly Remind Yourself Why You Want To Workout

Is it because you want to lose some weight? (I hope this is not your only reason though) 

Is it because you want to feel good? Or look more toned?

There are so many health benefits from being active and I’m sure you are very aware of them. However, it can get disheartening when you are unable to see the results immediately. Instead of focusing on the outside, try to focus on the inside/intangible results. For instance, working out consistently builds my self-discipline and self-trust in following through with my plans. Even if it seems like a small thing, it still gives me a sense of accomplishment.

It might also be a good idea if you pen your reasons down onto paper and put it up at a visible place to remind yourself why you want to stay consistent with your workouts. This will come in handy when you feel discouraged or need a reminder of why you started in the first place. Giving my future self a pep talk in advance has helped me to see the big picture and continue to persist.

5. Focus On Working Out More Often Than Not

Consistency doesn’t mean working out every day. It just means working out more often than not. 

Don’t be discouraged if you ‘lose your streak’. Instead, focus on working out on as many days of the week as possible. Working out on majority of the days (e.g. 5 out of 7 days) is still considered as ‘more often than not’.

As long as you treat working out as a habit, you will be patient with yourself because building habits take time. It is also important to reward yourself afterwards. For me, it is some quiet time reading a book or using my phone for the next 10 minutes (if I have the time immediately right after!).

Instead of waiting for the next semester break, why not implement one of these strategies into today’s workout? Then, comment down below your workout routine. I want to know!