One of the most glaring things I have seen after coaching hundreds of people is that we are creatures of routine. Creating a routine that works for you will turn those good decisions you want to make into subconscious actions, and you’ll make healthy choices without thinking about them.
"The secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine." - Mike Murdock
When trying to achieve your fitness goals, really the most important factor is consistency. One workout, or one healthy meal isn’t going to get you to where you want to be. Repeating the same healthy behaviors over a period of time (dependent on your goals) is going to be the main determining factor.
Starting a new routine can seem daunting at first, but here are a few tips to get you started:
Build habits one at a time (start with your biggest problem area!)
Are you struggling to have a healthy breakfast in the morning, get 7 hours of sleep, or exercise regularly? Whatever the largest obstacle is to your goal, start there. Then, decide what you want to accomplish with your routine and work backward. If mornings are a whirlwind of getting ready, corralling the kids, and slurping down coffee on the way to work, but you want a routine to eat a healthy breakfast, you might have to start with some simple meal prep the night before.
What can you remove from your current routine?
Is there anything in your current routine that is eating time, but isn’t necessary (looking at you snooze button)? You know the things that you need to get done, but what are the things in your current routine that aren’t advancing you to your goal; a few too many hours on Netflix, or in traffic, eating unhealthy food? Look for ways to eliminate these with your new routine to free up time and set yourself up for success.
Make things as easy as possible for yourself.
A successful routine is one you stick to. Which means it must be easy to follow, especially when you’re first starting out. Don’t try to add too much into your new routine or try to change too many aspects of your life all at once. Start with just one meal, two 10-minute walks, or 15 minutes of extra sleep a day.
Write it down.
And put it everywhere! Action is the result of motivation, ability, and triggers. The more triggers you have the more consistent you will be. You can’t start your new routine on good intentions alone. Write it down so you don’t have to second guess or make extra decisions. All you have to do is follow the plan you put in place. Print out your success principles and put them in a place that forces you to read them every day.
Be your own scientist.
Regularly check in with yourself to see how your routine is working for you. Is it moving you closer to your goals? What tweaks can you make to improve? As you begin to get used to your new routine you can start adding things to it one at a time or tackle your next biggest problem area. Soon your routines will accumulate and you’ll living the life you want!
Looking for some additional tips to reach your health and fitness goals? Book a free 15 minute consultation call here.