5 Easy Ways To Create an Intentional Workout Routine

Working out and exercising is as good for your body as it is for your mind. However, many people struggle with creating an intentional workout routine that they can sustain. With gyms closed and daily routines drastically shifted, the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated this issue. If you’ve found it challenging to make your workout an intentional and consistent habit, try these five tips:

1. Know Your Why and Start Small

Whether you’re brand new to working out or a seasoned pro, ask yourself the basic question, “Why do I want to do this?” This is your foundation to build upon. Then, give your mind and body time to adjust to the routine you’ve decided upon. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your fitness. Going from zero to running 10 miles a day isn’t realistic or safe. Instead, start with something more doable. The more manageable it feels, the more likely you’ll be to follow through.  

2. Track Your Journey

Journaling is a great tool for so many things, including your fitness. Use a journal to keep track of your workouts and take note of how you feel afterward each routine. Do some workouts feel more intentional? Or are you finding yourself on auto-pilot? On the days you feel stuck in a rut or unmotivated, you can reference your journal to remind yourself of a specific set of fantastic days. Read it often and recall how you felt after that great intentional workout routine.

3. Use Visualization to Make the Routine Stick

Repetition is the key to making your work out a habit. Use visualization as a way to get more familiar with your goal of working out more. By tapping into the strong emotional connection of why you want to consistently work out, your body and mind begin to crave it. The more you practice visualizing it, the more intentional your routine becomes. Try this visualization in the Veraki app specifically designed to help you see and feel your new healthy habit of working out more. 

4. Choose Activities That You Enjoy

Just because other people love HIIT workouts or running doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If you dread working out, it might be time to switch the activity you do. If being outdoors makes you happy, opt for a routine like running or hiking. Love to dance? Try a dance-fitness or barre class. Your routine will start to feel motivating when it includes activities that you enjoy.

5. Workout With Friends

While more challenging during the coronavirus pandemic, making fitness social is still possible. Set up a virtual sweat date by taking a class on Zoom with friends or family or talk on the phone as you both walk or hike. Studies show that having an exercise partner increases motivation. In these times of social isolation, using fitness as a way to connect might be exactly what you need to create an intentional workout routine that is consistent.

Whatever your preferred form of exercise is, we hope these tips will help you create an intentional routine you love. If you’d like more tips and visualizations that support your personal growth and overall wellness, download the Veraki app.