Having trouble forming an exercise habit you can keep over the long haul? Motivate your mind and body with these workout consistency tips! Whether you're lacking time, missing a little motivation, coming back from an illness or injury, or simply bored of the same old routine, we’re here to offer some help.

Exercise is important for your health and shouldn’t be skipped, no matter what life throws at you. Strategize, organize, and set yourself up for success, day in and day out.

Think Differently About Your Time

Are you feeling spread thin? Here's how to prioritize your healthy bod:

1. Try a few short exercise sessions spread throughout the day. A few 10-minute workouts every day will add up as the weeks go by. Sneak one in before you leave for work, one on your lunch break, and one in the evening.  
2. Earn your entertainment. It’s easy to want to come home after a long workday, immediately turn on the T.V., and just relax. Before you do so, however, make yourself earn it. Exercise first, relax later. Aim for a 1:1 ratio here. If your favorite show is an hour long, then you’d better get in an hour of activity beforehand.
3. Make exercise fun. Find a handful of activities that will be good for your fitness without feeling like they’re a grind. Things like walking with a friend, running clubs, even a dance class are all fun ways to stay in shape.

Group classes will keep you accountable, make exercise fun, and cultivate a positive workout mindset.

Form Healthy Habits That Support Your Exercise Habit

Making a few simple changes to your habits and routines will make regular exercise that much easier. Here are some ideas:

1. Keep a bag of exercise clothes and essentials like a water bottle handy. Whether you store your “emergency” workout gear in your car, at work, or in a gym locker, that bag will inevitably allow you to sneak in an otherwise impossible session.
2. Commit yourself to training with a friend, class, or personal trainer. Having someone depending on you, keeps you accountable and will motivate you to get there, no matter how lazy you might feel.
3. Plant reminders to exercise. Add exercise to your daily planner. Leave a note reminding you to exercise on your desk at work, bathroom mirror, or another obvious location. Set a motivating quote as your phone banner. The options are endless.

Keep Exercise Mentally Engaging

“Make the pursuit of quality and perfection the primary emphasis in your training. If you find this frustrating, good. If you find it boring, tough. Learning how to constructively deal with frustration and handle boredom is the only way to achieve true excellence.”  -Coach Christopher Sommer

1. Have a handful of workout options each week and put them on a rotation. Don’t continuously omit cardio just because it’s tough, but keep a flexible regimen and relaxed attitude. If you’re not feeling a jog today, swap it out with another and run later in the week.
2. Sign up for a new fitness course or club to mix things up.  
3. Engage in conversation on the GymnasticBodies Forum. There are sections where groups of people post their completed sessions to keep each other motivated and accountable.
4. Suck it up do the work anyway. Sometimes there is nothing that is going to make you feel motivated to get started. Tough luck, get after it anyway. Force it. You’ll always be happy you did.  

Squeezing in a quick ab workout like this GB Athlete doesn't take much time or special equipment. Keep it simple, especially when life is already keeping you busy.

Say goodbye to missed workouts and hello to lasting fitness motivation. With GymnasticBodies Training and the world’s most supportive fitness community, you're going to continue to be motivated to exercise, even when times get tough.