Even if you have already made the decision to start working out, there are probably days or even weeks when you can't fight the desire to be inactive and just enjoy some downtime. Finding the discipline you need to continue working out boils down to one thing: You need to make it personal for you. Make your workouts meaningful and employ some methods to help you stay on track.
Step 1
Write down your goals and why they are important to you. For example, you may need to lose weight so that you can reduce your risk for diabetes or you may want to improve your fitness so that you can play games with your children. Making a personal connection to your workouts will help ensure success.
Step 2
Make a schedule each week for yourself and put it in a visible place. Write down the days you will work out, the type of activity you will perform, how long you will work out, the location and an alternate activity if it is an outdoor activity. This helps take out the guesswork when it comes time to work out.
Step 3
Make your workouts realistic and challenging. If you are new to fitness and attempt to run 10 miles in the first week you will probably fall short of the mark. Pick a realistic workout that you can perform that will also push you to work hard.
Step 4
Measure your progress with small milestones. Seeing results is one of the best motivators to continue to push you forward. Create a measurable and small goal, such as losing 5 lbs., dropping a pants size or being able to do 10 more pushups in a minute.
Step 5
Reward yourself for achieving your milestones. For example, you could treat yourself to a pedicure or a new pair of pants, or have your favorite snack when you reach one of your small goals. Don't always pick food as your reward; this could interfere with your workout goals and make it harder to reach them.
Step 6
Involve your friends and family in your workouts. This will make your workouts more fun and help promote a healthy lifestyle for those around you. Share your goals to get support and motivation from your loved ones.
Step 7
Be prepared for setbacks. Failures and setbacks are a part of life and you should not dread them. If you slip up and miss a workout, don't fret over what you did wrong and let your whole plan collapse. Instead, note what caused the setback and continue moving forward.
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