exercise

3 Techniques That Helped Me Exercise Daily (When Nothing Else Worked)

A peek into how I keep myself motivated through a fitness slump.

Anangsha Alammyan

Aug 9, 2023 • 5 min read

Image from the author’s Instagram.

A peek into how I keep myself motivated through a fitness slump.

Who doesn’t love a cheat day after a full week of working out? But it’s easy to get derailed and let one day turn into days of inactivity if you’re inconsistent.

Before you think this is another motivational article asking you to exercise daily, wait.

Consistency is not about doing something every single day.

It means having a regular workout schedule and sticking to this routine.

Don’t need a rigorous workout regimen? Then do light workouts for 4 days a week and rest for the 3. Want to go even less? Work out for 3 days and rest for 4. Stick to any schedule you make, depending on your body’s fitness requirement, and that’s consistency.

I started working out in 2020, and I’ve been consistent since then. But before the pandemic, my plans of working out only remained on my to-do list. Life kept getting in the way. I postponed working out for the longest time.

Finally, I took charge to change my attitude toward physical fitness, and I haven’t been happier.

Here are 3 mindset shifts that helped me push through procrastination to work out daily.

Treat exercise as a keystone habit

Yes, you are determined to exercise. Your to-do list has a reminder in bold and highlighted letters. Yet, you can’t make yourself work out. Research shows that 41% of to-do list items are never completed. Your workout plan happens to be one of them.

To break this pattern, treat exercise as a keystone habit and structure your day around it. Time-block your calendar to exercise at a specific time, and slowly develop a routine. When you successfully shift your mindset, the excuse of “I can’t find time to work out” disappears.

Let me walk you through a typical day in my life.

I wake up early and take some time to breathe in fresh air. Being with nature is the best way to detox. Then, I make and have breakfast. I schedule working out right after it and then start exercising. Lunch, work, relaxation, it all follows.

For me, exercising sets the tone of the day. I keep getting back to it every day because it’s marked on my calendar, and it keeps me energized all day long.

But getting used to this routine took time. I struggled with time management and needed professional guidance. That’s when I found Wave.

It has an innovative way to improve any skill through daily coaching. With their AI-powered expert suggestions aided by human coaches, I achieved my goals promptly. Wave offers an amazing experience while you gain control of your life efficiently — be it health, work-life balance, leadership skills, or problem-solving. Get started now to get 14 days of free coaching from Wave.

Be creative with your workouts

When I first started working out in 2020, I had a go-to YouTube playlist of warm-ups and exercises. The drill went well for a week and then came Sunday.

‘It’s a holiday! Let’s skip the workout today,’ I thought.

On Monday morning, I woke up feeling happy after finishing a whole week of exercising. But the thought of playing the same YouTube video again felt exhausting. I took a break on Monday too, then Tuesday followed. Needless to say, I fell into a fitness slump.

When you’re repeating the same set of exercises, it’s easy to get bored. Quitting becomes too alluring. To break this monotony, I made conscious decisions to be open and flexible with my workout regime.

Ask yourself — what are you trying to achieve through exercising.

I wanted to keep my body active and moving. For this, I made a list of all physical activities to help me achieve my goals while I continue enjoying them.

On most days, I could hit the gym and shuffle my routine there. Sometimes I went for a walk or a run in the park. On others, cycling and swimming came to my rescue. The intention was to engage in some physical activity, and I succeeded in it due to the fun elements.

Learn to surprise yourself, and the motivation to work out will surely last longer.

Don’t let the missed workout guilt bog you down

The worst part of a fitness slump is the missed workout guilt. This is a vicious cycle where you can neither enjoy the break nor make yourself exercise. You’re completely thrown off the consistency you worked so hard to achieve.

Don’t let this phase bring you down. A mindset shift that helped me was to completely shun the idea that consistency means doing something daily.

No matter how dedicated you are, breaks are inevitable. Some commitments will be more important, and your workout routine won’t always be ideal.

At such times, try to enjoy your healthy break, knowing you’ll be back on your fitness track soon. Don’t beat yourself up for missing a few days of workouts. Remember that consistency is not synonymous with daily.

You can work out twice a week, and it can be your consistent pace. Take enough breaks to rejuvenate yourself and stay motivated.

A Mindset Shift is The Key

People closest to me often say that being consistent is easier said than done. I agree with them. As simple as it sounds, following a routine, even with ample breaks, is hard. But once you get the hang of it, it slowly becomes easier. This is why I swear by these 3 mindset shifts to get the drill started:

Set a specific time for exercise daily and mark it on your calendar. Seek professional help, if required.
Be flexible with your workout regime and aim to move the body daily.
If you take a break (long or short), relax at that time instead of feeling guilty about not working out.

"It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently." - Anthony Robbins

This is your reminder to shape a healthy life and start your fitness journey with consistency.

If you enjoyed this article, here are a few others you might enjoy: