For some, hitting the gym is as routine as brushing their teeth. For others, skipping a workout is the norm.
If you’re the type who sporadically sweats it out but craves a steady routine, make today the start of your journey to consistency. The key? Organization.
Just like in other areas of life, a little organizing can save you time, money, and regret, while also boosting your happiness, focus, and results. The same goes for fitness: to stick to a successful workout plan and achieve your goals, you need to get organized.
And we mean it in every way—from how you arrange your gear to how you structure your mindset. Ready to KonMari your fitness routine? Here are 12 organization hacks to get you started.
- Create an effective workout schedule. Does maintaining a weekly workout plan feel overwhelming? You’re probably picturing too many intense workouts! So hack #1? Start by consulting with your primary physician to ensure you’re considering factors like age, weight, and overall health,. Then, build a realistic routine that includes balancing workout days and rest days. (Good rule of thumb: Orangetheory Fitness experts recommend 3-4 weekly workouts.)
- Book your workouts in advance. If you have an app like Orangetheory’s that lets you reserve classes with a few taps, do it! “I book the whole month ahead of time after my billing date, so classes are scheduled already and all I have to do is show up,” says OTF member Leah Smith-Enisco of El Segundo, CA. (This is especially important around national holidays or annual workout challenges when classes fill up quickly!)
- Pencil in your plans, literally. Get out a paper calendar and jot down your workout sessions. Research from Columbia Business School found that people who use a paper calendar (as opposed to a mobile calendar) are more likely to complete their tasks. Why not give it a try?
- Prep the night before. To make the 5am classes work for her and husband, OTF member Roxie Bowie of Fredericksburg, VA sets everything out the night before: his clothes, her clothes, their water, wallet, keys, and OTF bands. “By taking 20 minutes max the night before, it streamlines the process and allows for a flawless flow to the morning,” she says.
- Use a shoe organizer. In an OTF group on Facebook, one member suggested using a hanging shoe organizer to store your workout clothes for the week ahead. “It’s staring you in the face, ready to go,” posted Lorenea Lane.
- Get creative with your motivation. Whatever it is that fuels you, make it impossible to ignore. Have a mantra that fires you up? Print it out and place it where you’ll see it before every workout (maybe even on your phone’s lock screen). Motivated by your kids? Write their initials on your sneakers as a reminder of why you’re staying fit. If music gets you in the zone, create a killer pre-workout playlist and play it even when you feel like canceling. Organizing these sights and sounds will help you stay the course more times than not.
- Set SMART goals. The stats speak for themselves: People who set goals are 10 times more likely to achieve them, and 90% of people perform better with relevant, challenging, achievable goals—which leads us to SMART goals. A common method used in office settings, "SMART" stands for "specific," "measurable," "attainable," "relevant," and "time-bound." (More on SMART goals here!)
- Track your progress. One of the biggest reasons people break from their fitness routines is because they mistakenly believe they’re not making progress. Hack: Visual aids! Choose a method that works for you: an online fitness tracker, the OTF heart rate monitor and app, or even a simple journal. Then track what’s relevant to your SMART goals, whether that’s your one-mile time, body composition, or just how you feel day to day. Seeing your progress will keep you pushing forward.
- Tackle your biggest obstacles. Think about what prevents you from maintaining a fitness routine and brainstorm (alone or with a friend) at least one “just try it” solution. For example, if you’re not a morning person, try using a sunrise alarm clock (they’re life-changing). If unexpected business meetings often derail your routine, have a few contingency plans: get in extra steps that day or do a quick at-home video workout. Always feeling low energy? Get to the root of it—adjust your diet, sleep, or whatever your doc recommends. (How about lots of travel? We’ve got tips for that too.)
- Organize a reward. Pick a realistic date in the future and put some time and effort into organizing an outing that celebrates your newfound fitness routine. It could be as extravagant as a hot air balloon ride or as simple as hitting up your favorite restaurant with friends—anything that will give you something to look forward to.
- Organize your mindset. Commit to this right here, right now: You’ll never again say, “Ugh, I have to work out.” Instead, think “I get to work out.” Being able to move your body is a gift. For OTF member Kristen Casey of Latham, NY, it’s all about the big picture: “My fitness routine keeps me mentally and physically healthy. And I know that if I get my workout in, I’m better for me and everyone around me.”
- Find your people. Okay, not so much an organization hack as it is a social life hack. But finding a fitness community and having workout partners who you genuinely like will not only help you look forward to going, but will also prove to you the value of accountability. Through high-fives, applauding new members, partner workouts, and celebrations big and small, OTF makes it easy to build connections.
Ready to join a supportive community? We’d love to meet you and help you stay on track. Book your first class free today!
