The Key to Consistent Exercise: 6 Essential Questions for Lasting Exercise Habits

Reflecting on your fitness habits is a good way to assess what you’re doing right and what might need improvement so you can stay consistent and reach your fitness goals. If you answer “yes” to these questions then you're more likely to stick with an exercise routine.

1. Do I enjoy my workouts?

Choosing workouts you enjoy can help you stay with a routine. If you find yourself dreading exercising, it might mean you need to find another way to move your body that gets you looking forward to the activity. 

2. Is exercise something I prioritize?

Committing to a workout routine takes effort and sometimes it’s easier to do than other times. Choosing to make exercise a top priority can help when life gets in the way. Try planning specific days and times to exercise and make a backup plan that you can do if the original plan gets disrupted (like shortening the workout or doing a home workout instead of a gym workout).

I want to acknowledge that some people don’t have the access or luxury to make exercise a priority. If this is the case for you, do what you can that’s within your means to add exercise into your life. This could be taking a short walk, stretching for a few minutes, or doing a few exercises at your desk or on a work break.

3. Do I stick to a workout plan?

Following a plan can structure your workouts and let you focus on other important aspects of exercise like feeling accomplished & seeing progress. Pick a type of routine (for example: full body or upper/lower body plan) and try it out for a few weeks to see if it’s right for you. I also suggest doing the same exercises for your workouts so you can work on improving those movements. When you do random workouts and exercises it can be harder to see progress and might become overwhelming especially if you’re still learning form, exercise names, and what muscles the exercises target. 

4. Do I track my progress?

Seeing the results of your efforts can help you feel more confident and stay motivated to continue exercising. You can use an app to track your progress, write it down in your notes app, or keep a journal. Apps are nice because they give ways to see the metrics in chart forms but using an OG method like a pen and notebook can still provide benefits. 

5. Have I tried new types of activity lately?

Moving your body in new ways can inspire you to keep exercising. Taking a break from your usual exercise activities keeps working out fun because you’ll be exercising in a new environment and challenging your body and mind in a new way.  

6. Do I mix up my activities throughout the week? 

Alternating between exercise activities keeps your fitness routine balanced and can help keep you from getting overuse injuries. Try alternating activities through the week like strength training one day and doing cardio and/or yoga the next day. If you prefer high-intensity workout classes make sure you do something lower in intensity and impact the following day so your body can stay moving but have time to recover.