7 Good Habits of Exercising

4 min read

Success is built on good habits, don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise, and working out is no different. Whatever fitness-related goal that you may have, without nurturing good habits, you won’t achieve them. That’s a hard truth not many are willing to swallow.

But success doesn’t have to be elusive and to help you on your way to success, here is a list of fitness-focused good habits you should have down for yourself. Take these, and avoid the bad habits.

1. Have a Code of Discipline

When trying to nurture good habits, having a code of discipline can make or break those habits. Here, a code of discipline isn’t necessarily a mantra to live by, it simply means knowing and having a thing that drives you.

That thing can be a goal/dream, a promise, or even a fear (although something can be said about being driven by negativity; short answer, it’s not advisable) – basically, being able to identify this thing is what will allow you to continue working out when you’re not in the mood; stay consistent when you could easily break a good streak; and stay motivated when things are not going your way.

We are all working out for a reason, and it’s important you identify, recognize, and acknowledge what yours is before just jumping into being “fit”. Trust me, it’ll make a world of difference when things inevitably get tough.

2. Get a Good Night’s Rest

It can never be overstated how important sleep/rest is when it comes to exercising. Guess what? Resting builds muscles, not exercising; resting allows you to go harder than last time, not consistency; and resting recharges your body, not food. Getting enough sleep is critical to exercising because all the repairs our bodies must go through occur when we shut down for sleep.

3. Have a Meal Plan

Once you have your sleeping down to a tee, the next thing to get right is nutrition. If there are two habits that are vital in getting right to reach whatever lofty goal you may have, it’s rest and nutrition – it’s not an exaggeration to say that nothing fitness-related can be achieved without these two. Sometimes, because we ignore the planning, we don’t realize the nutritional requirements to build toward our end goals like that of achieving more muscle through appropriate protein consumption, for those so inclined.

4. Have a Plan

It’s not readily acknowledged or understood but being organized will help you with setting great habits for the future. Having a plan comes in different forms: knowing what your end-goal is, keeping track of your numbers (weights, reps, sets, etc.), knowing what exercises you’ll be doing when you walk into the gym, and so on.

It’s fine to want to get started and figure your way as you go, especially if you’re doing something new, but this puts you at risk of wasting a lot of time that could have been better utilized. Have a plan when you’re exercising, especially if you’re attempting a new fitness venture.

5. Never Be Afraid to Ask for Help

I don’t know why but we seem to be in a society where it’s taboo to ask for help. I don’t know if this comes from the mania of trying to be independent or “self-made” – or maybe it has to do with how we’re becoming antisocial, but whatever it is, asking for assistance isn’t wrong and it helps you achieve things quicker. “Asking”, in general, is a good thing and everyone should practice doing more of it.

6. Have Motivators

Once again, this is something that can come in different forms. It’s important to have things that motivate you, especially when the going gets tough. To give you examples, these things can be your lofty goals, loved ones who keep you pushing, music that gets you going, or even a past achievement that reminds you why you’re doing what you’re doing.

7. Don’t Forget to Enjoy Yourself

Last but not least, if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, chances are you won’t keep it up for long. As humans we’re designed to gravitate toward the fun stuff and avoid the painful things, therefore if you ensure you’re enjoying what you’re doing then you’re effectively placing the foundations for longevity. There’s a reason why enjoying yourself is among the ten commandments of the gym.