Schedule Your Workouts and Create a Weekly Routine
Babies, toddlers, high schoolers, adults — the majority of us thrive when we have a set schedule and routine. When it comes to fitness, which can sometimes feel like a chore, it's especially tricky to stay committed. Penciling workouts into your schedule and creating a set daily or weekly routine will help you stay on track.
"It can be easy to move yourself down the priority list, especially as the day goes on," says Danielle Cote, the director of training operations for Pure Barre. "Treat your workouts like they are mandatory meetings that cannot be rescheduled. Find a time that works best for you and schedule, whether it is the same time each day you are working out, or it needs to shift based on other obligations and commitments."
Lauren McCallister, fitness expert for Mindbody, agrees, adding that working out from home makes it even easier to sidestep your workout sessions.
"When sweating from home, you might be tempted to answer an email, start dinner, dust shelves, or binge Netflix. To avoid doing so, remove as many distractions as possible by creating a specific workout space away from your work, phone, and TV," she says. "Even if it's just a small corner in your bedroom, designate a clean and calming space for your at-home workouts."
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Consider Virtual Classes
Virtual classes are amazing if you're craving that group fitness atmosphere, or if you tend to excel when you're being led in a workout versus coming up with an exercise routine on your own. McCallister says, "With fitness studios and gyms offering virtual workouts globally, it's easy to try something new from anywhere in the world. Purchase a live stream class package or start a new on-demand workout series to keep your body guessing and give you a new source of motivation."
Some programs to consider include BeachBody on Demand, Obé Fitness, Pure Barre (individual studios offer live virtual classes, but they also have on-demand), Blink Fitness, and Corepower Yoga. Also check in with your local fitness studios or personal trainers who likely have virtual offerings (and even some one-on-one options) available.
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Mix it Up
"One of the most effective ways to continue increasing fitness levels is to mix up your activities. Even before increasing duration or intensity in current workouts, try something new," suggests Jenai. "Our bodies adapt when we do the same things over and over. Adding variance to your workout routine will not only improve your fitness but will keep you more engaged and enthusiastic. This will help avoid the challenges of getting complacent or bored with your routine."
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Invest in Some (Inexpensive) Equipment
You don't have to spend a fortune, but investing in a few inexpensive pieces of equipment can really help take your workouts to the next level. They also provide more opportunity to mix it up, as Jenai suggested. Our fitness experts recommended picking up some of the following pieces. Pick whatever appeals to you most and have fun with it!
• Resistance Bands: Letsfit Resistance Bands for Legs and Butt, $16.99 - $18.59
• Stability / Exercise Ball: Tone Fitness Stability Ball/Exercise Ball, $19.99
• Kettlebells: Everyday Essentials All-Purpose Color Vinyl Coated Kettlebells, $16.99+
• Jump Rope: Peach Bands Speed Jump Rope, $21.99
• TRX Fit System Suspension Trainer, $99.99
• Foam Roller: Trigger Point Performance Grid Foam Roller, $33.66
• Yoga Mat: Kuyou Foldable Yoga Mat, $32.97
• Dumbbells: Nice C Adjustable Dumbbell Weight Pair 5-in-1, $39.99 - $79.99
• Floor Gliders: Tone It Up Slide 'N Sculpt Discs, $9.99
Focus on Fine Tuning & Improvement
For all the advanced exercisers out there who feel lost without a gym or studio to hold you accountable and help you get the most out of your workouts: We hear you.
"Let's just say it takes one to know one. When the gyms and fitness studios closed their doors at first, I was like, 'I got this! Literally. I have dumbbells and a barbell with a few plates, some resistance bands and loops, gliders, and a mat in my small NYC apartment. No sweat.' Until I realized, yeah, no sweat, because I was so accustomed to getting my workout done in the gym," says Thompson. Instead of focusing on what her weaknesses were in the gym and decided to really fine tune and improve upon her skill set. And boom — there was her inspiration.
"This notion stands for everyone from the powerlifter to the spin enthusiast who feel lost and helpless without the tools that were available to them at the gyms and studios. You can start with fine tuning the mind-muscle connection via various exercises, then work on fine tuning mobility," she says. "From there, fine tune weak posture points that are breaking down form during movement. Honestly, now is your time to become the master of your movement patterns so that when you get your hands back on those weights or your body back under the bar or your butt back in the saddle; you'll thrive!"
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