The Easy Way to Create a Fitness Routine

Do you keep thinking about working out, but just… aren’t? Are you waiting for Monday, or next week, or the 1st of the month? Or for life to “slow down”? Then the next thing you know it is next month, or even next year! In my twenty-five years of working in the industry, there is one key difference in the people who manage to create a fitness routine, and those who don’t. 

Make Fitness a Habit

Crazy, right? Stop trying to “fit in” working out, or waiting for the “right time” to start, because you will always find an excuse not to. The secret is to make working out a normal part of your day. Like eating breakfast, going grocery shopping, or vacuuming, fitness and movement becomes just one of those things that you do.

I worked as a fitness instructor for nearly 20 years. My job was literally exercise! Then, I moved to coaching clients in Pilates and personal training. This was a real wake-up call, because rather than working out WITH my clients, I was cueing them and coaching them. I had to readjust my routine so that I could workout before or after work, and around my daughter’s schedules. And, when my household and work routine changes, so does my fitness routine! 

How to Create a Fitness Routine (even when you are crazy busy)

1. Make it Convenient: Find something you can do that is close to home or your workplace so that it doesn’t take hours out of your day once you factor in commuting. A great way around this is to workout locally, during your lunch break at work, or try working out at home with the b.Pilates & Fitness at-home mat classes. 

2. Add Variety: If you get bored easily, or your routine changes a lot, look to add variety to create a fitness routine. Home workouts for busy (or lazy!) days, take a walk or run during your lunch break, hit the gym on “regular” days. There are always options! Having a variety of choices means that if you can’t do your usual workout, you have options waiting in the wings. 

3. Schedule It In: I take time every weekend to look to the week ahead and see what is on my schedule, in addition to my regular commitments. Sometimes I am surprised to see that I can fit in an extra spin class, Pilates workout, or join my friend for a morning run. 

Other weeks I might need to miss my favourite class and stick closer to home. No problem – I do an online Pilates class or take the dog for an extra long walk. It needs to work for you. Getting up early and working out before the kids are up can be awesome. It’s done and out of the way. But it’s not for everyone and that is ok! If you have small children, find a gym with child minding. You get an hour to yourself, are setting a good example for your children, and you’ll feel energized and good about yourself. 

Other weeks I might need to miss my favourite class and stick closer to home. No problem – I do an online Pilates class or take the dog for an extra long walk. It needs to work for you. Getting up early and working out before the kids are up can be awesome. It’s done and out of the way. But it’s not for everyone and that is ok! If you have small children, find a gym with child minding. You get an hour to yourself, are setting a good example for your children, and you’ll feel energized and good about yourself. 

Another option is to split your workout up! Do a half-hour workout at home in the morning, then a long walk with your dog in the evening.

4. Be Accountable: I originally started to teach classes and personal train because I loved participating in classes and being trained by a trainer. There is something to be said about having someone rely on you to simply show up. I still love being part of a group, so I will join up with a friend or two to run, ride, hike, or snowshoe. 

If you thrive on accountability and group training, try asking a friend to be your accountability buddy. I heard a story once about two friends who traded left shoes after every workout. That way, if one of them bailed, it meant the other one couldn’t work out, either. Just knowing that they were stopping a friend’s workout was enough to keep them motivated to keep showing up! 

Other ways to tap into this trick are to join a class, subscribe to an app, hire a trainer, or join a Facebook group or club. 

5. Enjoy It: Fitness should be challenging, but also enjoyable. If you are just starting out, I encourage you to try several different activities, and do what you enjoy. You might be surprised by what you “click” with! Exercise is always more fun when it is… fun! 

The fitness expert in me needs to add the importance of cross-training, though. By incorporating different types of activity (cardio, strength, flexibility), you are less prone to injuries. 

6. Set Goals: Even the smallest goals can help you stay on task when you are trying to create a fitness routine. From the simplest “20 minutes of exercise a day” to “run a 10km race”, keeping your eye on the prize just might be the thing to keep you motivated. 

7. Give Yourself a Break: We often forget to be kind to ourselves. If your child gets sick and you miss your workout, it sucks! But they only need you like this for a short time, so it’s okay. Do some stretching that evening instead. Maybe you are tired and need to sleep in one day. That’s ok, too. Why get sick or being falling asleep mid day? Sleep in, feel refreshed, and do an afternoon workout or just give yourself a day off. Pick up where you left off the next day. One day out of routine isn’t the end of the world – it’s life! Just pick it up the next day. 

It’s kind of funny – we have all of these reasons we are “too busy” to work out… yet we keep making time for all of those very things holding us back. By creating a fitness routine, you will quickly feel better and have more energy for “all of those things”. 

Are you ready to make Pilates part of your fitness routine? Or do you need some personal training to get you on track again? Contact us to find the best solution for you.