Strategies To Make Exercise A Habit That Sticks

If your goal is to work out more, the best thing you can do for yourself makes exercising a habit. Building a new habit can be challenging, but we’ve got some tried and true tips to help you form that new habit.

1. Start Small

One of the best things you can do for yourself when building a new habit is to start small. Instead of committing to workouts five days a week, start with just one or two. 

It can also help to limit the length of time you want to achieve the goal. For example, decide that you will work out twice a week for four weeks. At the end of a month, you can assess whether or not you want to amend your goal. The flexibility of starting small makes the goal achievable and adaptable. 

2. Focus on Consistency

When you’re starting a new habit, it’s important to not get discouraged. If you start small and focus on consistency, you’re less likely to feel as if you’ve failed at achieving your goal, which is the first step towards giving up on your new habit. Instead of shooting for the moon, shoot for something attainable and then focus on meeting that goal consistently. Doing something consistently makes it a habit. 

3. Try Habit Stacking

One of the best ways to form a new habit is with habit stacking. If you’re wondering how to make exercise a habit, stack it with a habit you already have. Habit stacking helps you to easily integrate something new into your existing routine and avoid decision fatigue. 

An example of habit stacking would be combining going to the gym with getting groceries. If you grocery shop once a week, you can add a workout ahead of your grocery shopping trip. 

4. Put it on Your Calendar

If you want to make exercise a habit and a priority in your life, you must make time for it. That means it needs to be on your calendar. If your workout is already on your calendar, that time will be booked and can’t be booked over or interrupted by other events or work obligations.

5. Build in Accountability

If you want to make exercise a habit, you need accountability. You can add more accountability to your workout habit by:

• Hiring a personal trainer
• Finding a gym buddy
• Spending money on a gym membership 

6. Make it Easy for Future You

Another great way to make exercise a habit is to make things easy for future you. If you’re planning to work out on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, prep everything you need on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

Set out your workout gear, prepare a breakfast shake full of protein, and put your car keys where you need them so that all you have to do is get dressed and walk out the door. 

If you want the exercise to become a habit that sticks, you need these strategies to support yourself and your new habits.