Have you been skipping planned workouts or has it been so long you can’t remember when you last exercised? Then it’s time to rethink your fitness routine. Finding the right workout schedule for you can be a challenge because it’s not a one-size-fits-all thing. What works for one person might not work for another and you have to consider what type of workouts you want to do and what time of day you want to do them.
Certified personal trainer Stephanie Mansour explains that the most effective workout routine is one that you’ll actually commit to. These are her five steps for coming up with a schedule that works for you:
- Create a list of workouts to choose from - Think of the kind of activities you like to do, maybe you loved dance lessons as a kid or riding your bike when you were in college. Connecting positive emotions to physical movement will boost your desire to stay committed to the workout. Then use your list to find ways to replicate that as an adult, like free dance workouts on YouTube or spin classes at the gym.
- Figure out what time of day is best for you - If you’re not a morning person, you’re not going to suddenly want to wake up at 6am so you can workout. Decide what time of day you’re most likely to follow through with exercise so you don’t set yourself up for failure, then schedule workouts at that time.
- Consider your eating schedule - You’ll want to work out one to three hours after eating a normal size meal and about an hour after snacking, so plan your workouts accordingly.
- Are you a weekday or weekend warrior? - If you only have time for a quick 15-minute workout during the week, commit to doing longer cardio or strength training sessions on Saturday and Sunday. If exercising during the work week, go for it and enjoy your leisurely weekends.
- Put the workouts on your calendar - Planning your sweat sessions in your calendar makes them a part of your everyday life. Think of it like a doctor’s appointment - tough to cancel, but if you do, then you definitely need to reschedule it.
Source: Today
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