How to Create a Workout Routine You’ll Actually Want to Stick to!

Don’t worry, I’ve been there. I know how it feels to loathe exercise of any kind.

For so long, I struggled to stick to a regular workout plan. I wanted to be fit and healthy, but I couldn’t quite find a way to solidify the habit long-term. 

First off, it’s completely normal to feel this way. The reality is we’re all super busy, and life is already demanding as is. Your time and energy are precious and limited in today’s world, so it’s no wonder that exercising feels like another draining thing to tick off an already long to-do list. 

But what if I told you that working out doesn’t have to suck or be something you dread? Moving your body shouldn’t have to feel like another thing you have to drag yourself through or force yourself to do. Staying active doesn’t have to be boring or mundane.

I might even go as far as to say that it can be fun. Yes, I said the “f” word.

As I said, I used to dread working out as much as the next person. But something incredible happened during my personal growth journey. Something changed, and before I knew it, I had fallen in love with the process of taking care of myself. Working out soon became an essential part of that.

Part of being able to stick to any workout plan is finding enjoyment in the process. Since exercise is crucial to one’s health and well-being, it only makes sense to enjoy it and turn it into a part of your day that you look forward to. 

How do you do this, you ask? Below I share three key elements that helped me develop my love for fitness and ultimately stick to a workout routine. 

SUSTAINABILITY

• Start small (and go slow)

It’s normal to feel super motivated at the beginning of your fitness journey and be tempted to dive right in with a challenging workout plan. While it’s great to chase big goals, this approach has been known to backfire (been there, yikes).

Make sure you start off with a manageable plan that is realistic for you and your lifestyle. If you try to commit to something too difficult or demanding right off the bat, you might lose motivation sooner rather than later. 

Remember, you want to turn exercise into something you enjoy and avoid seeing it as another draining chore on your to-do list.

Focus on picking a doable and sustainable routine for you.

• Centre your routine around workouts that are right for you

Guess what? You don’t have to carry on dragging yourself through that spin class you absolutely hate but still force yourself to go to. If you prefer hiking with your dog and being outside in nature, then that is what you should focus on doing.

I don’t really enjoy gyms, so I prefer to stick to home-based workouts. Although I have access to less equipment at home, I’m OK with this because I know that if I had to force myself to go to a gym, it wouldn’t be long before I started resenting working out again.

At the end of the day, your fitness journey is personal and unique to you. Identify what works for you, fits your personality, and suits your lifestyle. Don’t feel you need to keep up with others or copy what they’re doing. 

Sticking to a workout plan and enjoying it, too, will be much easier if you focus on activities that are right for you. Make it fun, do it with a friend, and don’t forget to mix things up every once in a while!

• Give yourself enough downtime

Rest is just as important as working out. It’s a skill to know when to push yourself and when to give yourself a break. If your plan doesn’t include enough downtime, it’s not going to be sustainable.

Make sure you set aside enough time for your body to rest and recover.

STRUCTURE

• Have a plan

Have you ever noticed that deciding what workout to do is almost as exhausting as actually doing the workout itself? I hope I’m not the only one.

It comes in handy to know what you’re doing in advance instead of whatever you feel like when the time comes. A plan is important because it provides you with two vital things: structure and direction. In other words, you know what you’re working toward and have a clear path to get there.

When you plan ahead, you avoid decision fatigue and any confusion about what needs to happen on the day. A plan will ensure that you’re not missing anything and that you’re staying consistent. This will help you to avoid frustration and burnout from a lack of results.

• Work out at times that work for you 

I’ve always been the “workout first thing in the morning” type, but when I started working full-time, that kind of went out the window. I decided that afternoon workouts would have to be the way to go from then on because I thought there was no way I’d be able to squeeze in a session before work in the mornings. 

Big disaster. Epic fail. By the time I got home from a full day’s work I was far too drained to find the energy or the motivation to jump around my living room. It wasn’t happening in this lifetime or any other. 

I switched back to (super early) morning workouts, and I’ve never looked back. Instead of dreading my workouts, I now look forward to them because that’s “me” time that I’ve carved out for myself first thing in the morning. 

Set yourself up for success by scheduling your workouts during times that work best for you.

TIP: working out at the same time every day might help make the habit stick!

• Work out where you feel comfortable 

As I mentioned before, I hate working out in the gym, so I will talk myself out of not going. I prefer to work out at home, where I can be sweaty in peace and not worry about where I’ll find the next dumbbell I need. 

By structuring my workouts so I can do them from home, I avoid the added resistance of dragging myself to a gym to get them done.

The result? Sticking to my plan automatically becomes a ton easier, and I don’t catch myself trying to conjure up excuses to get out of training. 

• Have an end goal

Goals are very important because they provide direction. Working towards a specific outcome can help motivate you to stay on track while also making the process enjoyable as you watch yourself make progress every day. 

PERSPECTIVE

• Challenge it

I wish I had learned earlier that being able to move your body is a gift. The ability to work out is, in fact, a blessing. In reality, many people don’t share the same luxury of that opportunity.

Exercise gratitude and try to challenge your perspective around exercise. See it as a way to celebrate what your body can do instead of it being just another tedious chore on the to-do list.

• Find your why 

Why do you want to work out? What is the real reason you want to start a fitness journey? Is it to feel more confident in your body? To build strength? To feel happier and more empowered? To improve your health so that you can be there for your family?

It’s so important to find meaning in what you’re doing (that’s deeper than any aesthetic goal) so that you have a solid “why” to fall back on when you don’t feel motivated. This is intrinsic motivation, something that will get you much farther than any surface-level goal. 

Ask why and dig deep to find the root of what is really important to you.

• Focus on the inside

While having aesthetic goals is fine, these are generally more long-term outcomes that you will only see once you’ve been committed to working out for some time. Turn your attention to the short-term benefits and how exercise might affect you internally. 

Focus on how it makes you feel. Do you feel healthier? Less stressed? Has your sleep improved? How do you generally feel after working out? Has your mental health improved?

Working out makes me feel powerful and connected to my body and helps to relieve stress. To me, these benefits far outweigh any aesthetic goals I have.

• Be curious

Have you ever wondered how much you could achieve if you just stuck it out? I found that when I got curious about my abilities in terms of fitness, I was immediately intrigued by what could happen. What could I actually accomplish if I set my mind to it? 

Looking at working out this way removed some pressure from the equation, and I began to approach the process with a new, open mind.

What’s the main thing holding you back from sticking to a workout plan? How will you change your fitness approach so that you enjoy it more?

I hope these tips have inspired you! Share with a friend who might find them helpful, or let me know in the comments if you have anything else to add. As always, I’d love to hear from you!