I don’t need to tell you that exercise is pretty awesome in terms of benefits, folks! You’ll feel better, look better, have more energy, relieve stress and keep yourself more healthy, and all from one concept!
One way to get into exercise on a more regular basis is by having a routine. While that sounds simple enough, many people don’t put enough thought into the creation of their workout routine, and that’s necessary for the best results. Before you begin your new exercise routine, here are four questions to ask yourself.
What’s my goal?
You want a relatively clear goal of what you are trying to achieve over the next three to six months or so. Knowing what you want to do the most–move better, lose weight or get stronger, for example–will help ensure you’re doing the right activities to reach that goal. If you don’t have a specific goal and just want to get more fit, working up to 60 minutes of cardio three or more times each week is often sufficient.
What’s worked before?
If you had specific exercises you did in the past that worked for you, consider whether they’ll be appropriate for whatever your current goals are. When you’ve tried something before and know it works, you can kickstart your new routine with it!
How often are you going to work out?
For this question, you must decide what commitment level you can give to your training and goals based on your obligations, work schedule and lifestyle. For many people, working out three days per week at a minimum is needed to achieve most goals. Experts don’t recommend working out seven days a week–the cap is five to six–and if you haven’t really been working out regularly, you’ll need to work yourself up to five or six days, if you have the time, to avoid injury.
Once you know how many times you will work out per week, you’ll know what time slots are available for the different types of training you’re looking to do. You can use this information to split your routines up accordingly.
Are there any concerns?
If you have a pre-existing injury or a disability that interferes with some types of movement, you’ll have to factor this in as you build a workout routine. You don’t want to create a routine that leads to injury or frustration as this can derail you from reaching your goals before you even really begin.
