When it comes to working out, getting started is always the hardest part. And if you’re not fully committed, then it’s easy to give up.

However, if you’re serious about making exercise a habit instead of a chore, there are a few things you can do to help yourself.

Here at The Fitness Room, Honeybourne we want you to reach your fitness goals, so here are our top tips to ensure you get into good habits this year!

Set a time for your workout and stick to it

Having a fixed time each day when you know you’re going to be working out is a great way to ensure it becomes a habit. Just as you probably get up, go to bed and eat dinner at a similar time each day, you can do the same with your workout so it becomes part of your everyday routine.

We all have things crop up unexpectedly from time to time, so if you miss your workout then don’t be too hard on yourself, just as long as it’s a genuine reason and not an excuse to avoid doing it.

Even just 10 minutes a day can make a big difference, so put the time into your routine and stick with it.

Do it every day

This is very important when you’re getting started as it’s far easier to turn something into a habit if you’re consistently doing it. Think about it like this; if you tell yourself that you’ll do press-ups for 10 minutes every Tuesday evening, are you realistically going to do it when the following Tuesday comes round? Making it a daily occurrence, especially when you’re starting out, will help it to become ingrained in your mind.

Set goals

This is a great way to stick at it, particularly when you’re struggling. Your goal for example, could be to complete 300 press-ups in a month, so you know you’ll need to do 10 every day in order to hit your target. And to make sure you do hit your target…

Find an accountability partner

If you live with someone then perfect, otherwise just let a friend or family member know what you’re doing and ask them to message you every evening to keep track of your progress.

Agree on a forfeit with them and make sure it’s something that’s going to sting you. For example, for every day that you fail to meet your target, you’ll owe them £10 or a drink when you next go out. After a few expensive days, you’ll definitely be feeling motivated to carry on with your workouts.

And if your accountability partner can’t be there to check up on you then don’t lie to them. You’ll only be cheating yourself.

On that note though…

Reward yourself

Part of the reason why targets and goals are so essential is because there’s usually a tangible reward when you hit them. It might be a financial bonus at work or a trophy for a football team at the end of the season for example.

There’s no reason why your workouts can’t be the same. So, at the end of every week or month, treat yourself to a little something as a reward. It will make the hard work seem worth it and you’ll feel like you’ve earned it more.

The Fitness Room Honeybourne offers a friendly, safe gym environment, personal training and meal plans to help you get into the habit of working out and eating healthily. Call us on 07540 060269 for a free consultation and more information.