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? Organisation.
Just like in other areas of life, a little organising 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 organised.
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 organisation 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 note down your workout sessions. Research from Columbia Business School found that individuals who use a paper calendar (as opposed to a mobile calendar) are more likely to complete their tasks. Why not give it a go?
- Prepare the night before. To make the 5am classes work for her and her 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 maximum the night before, it streamlines the process and allows for a flawless flow to the morning,” she says.
- Use a shoe organiser. In an OTF group on Facebook, one member suggested using a hanging shoe organiser to store your workout clothes for the week ahead. “It’s right in front of you, ready to go,” posted Lorenea Lane.
- Get inventive with your motivation. Whatever it is that drives you, make it impossible to disregard. Have a mantra that motivates you? Print it out and position it where you’ll see it before every workout (perhaps even on your phone’s lock screen). Motivated by your children? Write their initials on your trainers 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 cancelling. Organising these sights and sounds will help you stay the course more times than not.
- Set SMART goals. The statistics speak for themselves: People who set goals are 10 times more likely to achieve them, and 90% of individuals perform better with relevant, challenging, achievable goals—which leads us to SMART goals. A popular approach used in workplace settings, "SMART" stands for "specific," "measurable," "achievable," "relevant," and "time-bound." (More on SMART goals here!)
- Track your progress. One of the main reasons people fall away from their fitness routines is that they mistakenly believe they’re not progressing. Hack: Visual aids! Choose a method that suits you: an online fitness tracker, the OTF heart rate monitor and app, or even a simple journal. Then monitor what’s pertinent to your SMART goals, whether that’s your one-mile time, body composition, or how you feel on a daily basis. Viewing your progress will motivate you to keep going.
- Address your greatest challenges. Consider what stops you from sticking to a fitness routine and brainstorm (either alone or with a friend) at least one “just try it” solution. For example, if you’re not a morning person, consider investing in a sunrise alarm clock (they’re transformative). If unexpected meetings often disrupt your routine, have a few backup plans: add in extra steps that day or do a quick at-home video workout. Always feeling low on energy? Get to the root of it—adjust your diet, sleep, or whatever your doctor recommends. (How about frequent travel? We’ve got tips for that as well.)
- Organise a reward. Pick a realistic date in the future and put some time and effort into organising 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 favourite restaurant with friends—anything that will give you something to look forward to.
- Organise your mindset. Commit to this right here and now: You’ll never again say, “Oh no, I have to work out.” Instead, think “I get to work out.” Being able to move your body is a privilege. For OTF member Kristen Casey of Latham, NY, it’s all about the broader picture: “My fitness routine keeps me mentally and physically fit. And I know that if I get my workout in, I’m better for myself and everyone around me.”
- Find your community. Okay, not so much an organisational hack as it is a social life hack. But finding a fitness community and having workout partners you genuinely enjoy will not only help you look forward to attending, but will also demonstrate the value of accountability. Through high-fives, applauding new members, partner workouts, and celebrations both big and small, OTF makes it easy to forge connections.
Ready to join a supportive community? We’d love to meet you and assist you in staying on track. Book your first class free today!
