Keeping an exercise routine is by far one of the hardest things I do nowadays. Years ago, exercise was my routine. Every. Single. Day. Over the years, though, I have slacked quite a bit. After back problems that caused weight gain, and loads of stress for years, I am now finally in a place where I can, and am, trying very hard to make exercise my new routine.

Like everyone, finding the motivation and time to exercise are big issues. I totally get it. However, I would like to pose an idea to you. What about starting so small that you make it manageable, right out the gate? So easy, that you would be crazy not to do it. This is what I have started doing. Let me explain this a little…

I have always kind of been all or nothing when it comes to working out. In other words, if I said I was going to exercise, I tried to do it all, only to crash and burn. I wanted to take 20,000 steps a day, walk/run everyday, lift weights, do BBG, go as fast as I can on the treadmill(petering out after 4 minutes), and on top of that I could only eat healthy. Although these goals are excellent and eventually what I want to get to, they are not “reasonable” as my husband says. I set my expectations too high and then get tired and burnt out really fast.

So, this leads me back to starting small and what I mean by that. Instead of walking 20,000 steps, I now strive for around 8,000-10,000 steps a day, consistently. I also currently walk on the treadmill, and also do Melissa Wood Health. Instead of going as fast as I can on the treadmill, I have found it so much more enjoyable by just going slow, putting in my headphones to my playlist, and walking for 15 minutes. Mind you, when I began I only walked on it 5 minutes for 3 days, then 10 minutes for 3 days, and you get the picture.

For the Melissa Wood Health pilates workouts, they are super for the busy woman or man, because they are short time wise, but very impactful. They range anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. I am here to tell you, that these workouts are perfect if you don’t like a long workout sesh, and really do make you feel the burn.

Yeah I want overnight results sure, but is it possible? The answer is no. If I try for overnight results, I will only break myself down, and then where am I at? Back at square one. So I have finally realized that you will get farther by taking the small steps and then increasing the small steps, consistently. Yes, as with anything, consistency is key. Also try to exercise at the same time everyday. You will be more likely to follow through each day doing this.

Start today by thinking about what you have wanted to accomplish for some time, and write down what you have to do to accomplish it. Maybe it is losing 20 pounds. Whatever it is make the steps doable and so easy that you can’t simply turn down doing it. As you get more and more used to working out, you will learn to enjoy it more.

Now ask yourself, what is one small thing I can do daily to help me reach that goal? Remember, take a small step and slowly increase it. It makes me think about an analogy: so you are driving down the road and a guy passes you going Mach 90 and leaves you behind him. Imagine you keeping the 65 mile an hour pace; cruise control set. Ten minutes later, you come up to a town with a stop light. Guess who is at the stop light with you? Yep, the guy that passed you that thought he could get there quicker by going faster. Probably he got behind slow traffic, couldn’t pass, and wore out his brakes having to stop each time he got behind someone that was going too slow. Does this sound familiar? I know this very thing has happened to me. So, now think about this in respect to accomplishing your goals and starting small, consistently. It makes sense now doesn’t it.?

Comment below if you try this or whatever method you use to make working out your new routine. I love hearing different people’s ideas and journeys.