“Successful people aren’t born that way. They become successful by establishing the habit of doing things unsuccessful people don’t like to do.” – William Makepeace Thackeray
I adore being in a fitness routine, but those habits are not only hard to form, they can be difficult to sustain. We miss workouts, shrug and say, “life happens,” because that’s the truth – meetings, illnesses, injuries, family obligations, special events, and just life in general can get in the way. I’ll be the first to admit that I get crabby when I’m out of my Aerial Dance routine, and that includes the days I look at my app and see I haven’t pre-planned my workouts.
Having a workout schedule is important for many reasons:
- Consistency: This is key to seeing progress in strength, endurance, and overall fitness.
- Accountability: When we plan our workouts in advance, we’re more likely to stick to them. It’s harder to skip a workout when it’s saved on your pole fitness app.
- Progress Tracking: A schedule allows us to plan our workouts around specific goals (strength, flexibility, weight loss, etc.), making it easier to track progress over time.
- Reduced Decision Fatigue: Having any routine eliminates the need to figure out what to do each day. The less we have to think about it, the more likely we are to actually do it.
- Balanced Approach: A structured schedule helps ensure we’re incorporating a variety of exercises, such as strength, cardio, and flexibility training.
- Motivation: When we see the results of sticking to a schedule—whether it’s improved strength, endurance, or physical appearance—it can be a big motivational boost to keep going.
- Time Management: Scheduling workouts makes it easier to balance them with other commitments like work, school, or social activities. Of course sometimes life happens, but we have some control over when it does.
In short, a workout schedule helps us stay committed and keep things organized. When life feels managed, instead of crazy, it reduces stress and keeps the crabbies away!
