How to plan a gym routine you will stick to

As with most things in life, the hardest thing is getting started. Whether that’s a new activity or lifestyle change, a gym routine is no different and it can often take time to settle in and find something that works for you.

Our survey found that 30% of people want to get into or back into exercise in September and we’re here to help you get started.

While everyone’s lifestyle is different and varied, we’ve come up with a few top tips of how to plan a new gym routine and stick to it:

Be realistic

This part is key; set yourself a realistic gym routine that you can accommodate around your lifestyle. Immediately thinking that you’ll be hitting the gym five times a week is setting yourself up for failure which can easily leave you demotivated and back to square one. Even if it’s starting with one gym session a week which you supplement with walking or a home workout, these are fantastic foundations to build up your fitness and start to establish a new routine.

Do it for the right reasons

There’s usually a strong motivation for starting a new gym routine and it’s important that you’re doing it for the right reasons. Our survey found that over half of Brits (54%) that are planning to take up exercise are doing it to feel good within their own body, closely followed by exercising to help towards their mental health (42%). Reasons that come from within like these can keep you motivated and should always be kept in your mind as you embark on your new routine.

Set time aside

This is a great tip for your own accountability. We’d recommend blocking out ‘gym time’ in your day so this time is set aside for you to go to the gym and achieve what you want to do. Many people try to make these times consistent every week as that way you’re embedding the gym into your lifestyle and psychologically associate a certain time of day as your ‘gym time’.

Plan your gym sessions in advance

A way to maximise the enjoyment and effectiveness of your gym sessions is to have an idea in your mind of what you’re going to do before you go. We’ve all been there where we’re aimlessly looking round wondering what bit of equipment to use next! For example, if you’re planning on going three days a week, you could split your gym sessions into upper body, lower body and cardio / functional training. These can always be interchangeable too dependant on what you’re feeling like doing that day! It’s always best to speak to a coach to come up with a plan which fits your goals which brings us nicely onto…

Speak to a qualified fitness coach

Getting the advice of a qualified fitness coach can be invaluable when planning your new fitness routine. By sharing your goals with them, they can come up with a personalised plan across your gym training, nutrition and recovery to maximise your results. Having their advice and plan in mind can reassure you that you’re on the right track and every gym session is one step closer to you achieving your goals.

Track your progress

Keeping track of your progress is a great way to keep up your new routine. Progress can take many forms; whether that’s being able to run a little further, lift a bit heavier or most important of all, generally feel happier and healthier as a result of being active. Not all progress is visible and it’s certainly not as simple as seeing a different number on the scales.

Keep a log of your progress and as you begin to see results, keeping up your new-found routine can be that little bit easier.