You probably want to find the best time and effort-saving way to introduce your new routine, whether your goal is to increase your strength and stamina, improve your speed and agility, or just become more chiseled. Even while showing up is crucial, the other 50% of the fight is won through dedicated effort, regular practice, and smart planning.
Here are five tips to help you reach your fitness goals, whether you’re an experienced gym-goer or just getting started:
- Start your morning workouts on a strong note by drinking a cup of coffee.
Caffeine in coffee can give you an additional energy boost for your door pull up bar or boot camp session by stimulating your central nervous system. In addition to improving performance, research suggests that it can make physical activity enjoyable, leading to more endurance. One should drink it for at least half an hour before warming up to maximize its effectiveness.
- Go to the gym well-prepared.
If you know what you want to do when you go to the gym, you won’t waste time wondering what to do. Lack of focus not only extends your workout session but also reduces its effectiveness by decreasing your heart rate. A precise strategy is your hidden weapon. Make a plan for your workout, including the exercises you want to do and the sequence in which you will do them.
- Listen to an inspiring playlist during your workout.
Listen to music that makes you feel confident, strong, and like you are capable of doing anything throughout your workout. Additionally, good-quality headphones will provide you with an increase in both comfort and sound quality if you have been using the very same headphones for a long time. A pro tip by a health education platform, Calisthenics Worldwide, is to try to hold off on responding to the group text or checking messenger apps. Switch to airplane mode on your phone throughout your workout to focus on yourself.
- Do some dynamic stretches to warm up for your workout.
Dynamic stretches are an integral part of every warmup routine. Instead of holding a single stretch for a long period, you’ll be going through a series of stretches using dynamic stretching. Warming up in this way prepares your body for exercise by gradually raising your heart rate and core body temperature. One of the many benefits of a dynamic warmup is that it gives you a wider range of motion. This lets you make more progress with each strengthening workout.
Include active recovery days in your routine.
Time spent away from the gym is where the true magic happens when aiming for muscle gain. Micro-tears in muscle tissue are developed during the workout. Later, after your body has recovered from the sweat session, it repairs the muscle fibers it has injured, making them even stronger. The good news is, on such days, you can go for a walk or even do some light stretching instead of lying on the couch all day.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re just getting started with exercise or want to spice up your existing routine, these tips can help you get in shape in the best way possible.