3 Unconventional Tips for Creating a Workout Program

Exercise is essential.

There's no arguing about that. For general health and longevity, energy and aesthetics, regular exercise is a magical elixir.

Or course, most of us already recognize the truth in that idea. We know exercise is good for us. Still, we never make it a priority. We're too busy or too tired to take care of ourselves. Which, when you think about it that way, seems to defy logic. How many things do we do on a daily basis that are more important than our health? There can't be many.

It's time for a change. Time to make your health the priority. The best way to get started is by following these three tips for making your workout program work for you.

1. Get specific about goal setting. You've probably heard this one before. If you're going to exercise, it's best to set a goal. After all, it's impossible to hit a target you can't see. I'm not disputing that fact. Goals are great. But, most people go about them all wrong. They think, "I want to run a marathon," or "I want to bench press 300 pounds."

Those things are long-term goals. Something to shoot for someday in the future. If you ever expect to reach that goal, you have to get specific. Break things way down. What will you do today to bring you closer to your goal? Answer that question. Then do the same thing for each day, week and month. Going through this process will make one thing abundantly clear – exercise is a habit and a process. What you do today impacts what happens six months from now. When you get specific about your goals, you can get serious about achieving them.

2. Plan it out. With a clear concept of what you hope to achieve, you'll be able to create an action plan. Your goals will dictate how often you need to exercise, at what intensity, whether or not you'll need a gym membership, if you can exercise at home. There's no right answer. Only the one that will work best for you.

Honesty is important in the planning phase. How much time and effort are you willing and able to devote to exercise? Your honest answer will dictate how many days you'll work out each week, as well as the duration of those workouts. At minimum, shoot for three, 20-minute workouts each week. Even if it's simply a combination of bodyweight exercises and jogging around the block, something is better than nothing. It's a great start. One that will carry you closer to your goals from the previous point.

3. Commit. This is the big one. It's incredibly important for you to show up and do the work. You have goals, we all do. Now, you also have a plan. Which is fantastic. But, neither of those things matter if you don't show up and do the work.

No matter how much time you've put into planning or goal-setting, there will come a day when you can't muster the energy to exercise. You want to take a nap, not break a sweat. You have a choice to make. Will you work out or cop-out? I'm telling you right now, you have to choose the work. You might not want to. It probably won't be your best bout of exercise ever. But, it will keep you on track toward achieving your goals.

Remember, what you do today impacts what happens six months from now. Stick to the plan you've created, no excuses. If you are willing to commit and persist, you'll be able to achieve your goals, no matter what they are.