5 Foolproof Tips for Getting into a Workout Routine

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All opinions are mine alone. #BlueLizardSummer #CollectiveBias

1. Stop doing stuff you hate

Probably the most important tip for creating and KEEPING a workout routine is to pick exercises that you actually enjoy doing. If you hate running, don’t try to run 5 days a week. When you force yourself to do something, you’ll stick with it for maybe a few weeks… but eventually, you’ll stop altogether. Instead, try a different kind of cardio – swimming, pilates, dance, jump roping, whatever. It’s that simple. 

For me, I absolutely love yoga. It’s my jam. I’ve always taken classes here and there over the years, but I decided this past January that I wanted to make it the core part of my workout routine. So, I enrolled in the monthly unlimited membership at my local studio and have been going typically 3 times a week since. It’s something that I couldn’t live without. Yoga energizes me, calms me down, keeps my anxiety at bay, and makes me so incredibly happy. 

2. Enlist the help of a friend

Working out with a friend is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Think of it this way – It’s much harder to cancel on a friend than it is to cancel with yourself. Instead of scheduling brunch dates with your bestie, schedule a workout session with brunch afterward. You’ll get to sweat it out a bit, but also still have the opportunity to gossip over waffles and mimosas. WIN. 

Enlisting a friend definitely helped me get into a fitness routine. My friend Bridgett also has a yoga membership, so we go to all of the same classes. She lives near the studio, so I just swing by and pick her up on the way there. There have been so many Sunday mornings when all I wanted to do was hit the snooze button and go back to sleep for an hour, but I don’t because Bridgett holds me accountable. I won’t lie. Some days we both decide we’d rather NOT workout, but those days don’t happen too often because we know how great we feel afterwards. 

3. Prep essentials the night before 

We’re all busy. I get it. Do yourself a favor and get everything you’ll need for your workout the night before. That way, if you want to sleep an extra 15 minutes, you can! The worst is when you’re all motivated to get to the gym, but can’t find your headphones. This has happened to me way too many times to count. Taking 5 minutes to prep your essentials ahead of time does wonders. 

Aside from the obvious clothing and sneakers, my essentials include a quick pre-workout snack {i.e. almonds, a banana, grapes}, a charged iPhone, headphones, water bottle, and most importantly sunscreen. In the spring and summer months, I love hiking, doing yoga outdoors, going for long walks with my pup, and taking the occasional jog around my development. This time of year can be pretty hot here in the northeast, so protecting my skin from the sun is key.  

You guys know how much I love products that are more natural, so it should come to no surprise that my sunscreen fits the bill. I recently started using Blue Lizard® Australian Sunscreen {the Sensitive version}, and I’m pretty much obsessed. It’s paraben-free, chemical-free and fragrance-free, and is ranked as one of the top sunscreens by the Environmental Working Group. Blue Lizard® provides all the coverage you’ll need to keep your skin safe from the sun. It provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection {SPF30+}, and is a brand that’s been recommended by dermatologists for over 15 years! Also – something pretty cool about the packaging is that it has a patented Smart Bottle™ technology. The bottle changes color when exposed to harmful UV sunlight, which helps remind you when you need to re-apply your sunscreen. Cool right?!  

They carry Blue Lizard® at Walmart, which makes it super convenient to pick up an extra bottle anytime you need it. Earn $4 when you use iBotta when purchasing a 5oz. bottle of Blue Lizard® Sensitive. 

4. Time block your workouts 

You probably already schedule your work meetings, get-togethers with friends, and other important dates, so why not time block your workouts too? You might be wondering, “What is time blocking?” Well, with time blocking, you do only ONE thing for whatever amount of time you want. It’s a strategy for using time wisely and achieving greater productivity.

Time blocking is used a lot in business settings, but I use it in all aspects of my life. It’s been a huge lifesaver for me this year, and has helped me feel less overwhelmed. For example, anytime I sign up for a yoga class, I immediately put it in my calendar and set an alert for an hour before. That way, I’m less likely to book another activity at the same time. I also time block reading, cooking dinner, working on blog posts, and other random tasks. It’s a great way to keep yourself accountable for the tasks you need or want to complete. 

5. Don’t be too hard on yourself

It’s going to take some time to figure out a schedule and routine that works best for you, so don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. It’s going to happen. Take things slow and try not to have an all or nothing attitude. Every day is a new day, so if you slack off in the beginning of the week, you still have the rest of the week to get back into gear. 

If you stick to your schedule, treat yourself! Go get a soy chai or piece of cheesecake, or if you’re feeling really generous to yourself… go get some new workout clothes! Do whatever makes you happy and motivates you to keep going.