Connecting exercise to a solid event that you know will happen is a great way to stay consistent. I know that I will leave work at 5 every weekday – instead of going home, I bring my workout clothes with me and go straight to the gym.

This chaining is also why it can be hard t...

When we set goals, we often become overly optimistic. It makes us ignore the hard parts and get frustrated when we encounter the challenges that any goal will have.

Figure out what the roadblocks will be in advance. Spend 5 minutes writing down all the potential challenges you can fa...

Once you have a plan in place for actually getting to a workout, make a plan for what you will do and when.

• Having a set program to follow.
• Set specific times to work out. If you vaguely know you have to get 3 workouts in this week, it’s easy to push them back to late...

Reducing barriers could mean switching to a gym that’s closer to your house, having a set program so that you’re never wondering what you should be doing, or preparing your gym bag in advance (also a precommitment).

Reducing barriers to activities you want to do...

Precommitments are actions that get you invested in going to the gym. If you’ve committed to going with a partner, you’re hardly going to leave them hanging.

Similarly, bringing clothes with you to work, packing your gym bag in advance, or laying out your wo...