by Nadia Sinclair

What if the key to maintaining a consistent fitness routine was not about enjoying harsh workouts or using sheer willpower? What if it was about forming the right habits? Enter automaticity, the up-and-coming concept that’s transforming approaches to fitness and paving the way for sustainable exercise commitment.

A New Chapter in the Fitness Universe: Automaticity

A landmark study by a leading team of sports scientists unlocked the secret that separates individuals who are consistently active versus those who are inactive. The secret is automaticity – the art of molding exercise into a habit we stick to without second thought. The results of the study were astonishingly black-and-white, with 100% of active participants confessing that working out had become automatic, while 92% of their inactive counterparts resolutely disagreed.

Take the experience of Iris Fielding, a celebrated personal trainer and Pilates instructor, who emphasizes, ‘Once fitness becomes a habit and subsequently a lifestyle, it’s akin to a lifeline. As this new habit turns into a part of your identity, the thought of abandoning it becomes less likely.’ Let’s peruse some strategies to adopt automaticity and make your fitness journey a natural progression.

Venturing into the Realm of Automaticity: 5 Ways to Nurture Fitness as a Habit

Embrace Group Classes
Whether it’s the powerhouse workout of CrossFit, an open-air bootcamp, or even a digital cohort of fitness enthusiasts, sweating it out together can skyrocket your motivation and keep your exercise routine dynamic. Fielding encourages mixing different forms of workouts like stretch exercises, sculpting sessions, and cardio for a well-rounded regimen. She asserts that such variety ensures a balanced fitness routine, offering all the elements your body requires.

Take Note of Your Progress
A conscious approach to observing your progress can drastically alter your fitness journey. Utilize tracking apps, smart watches, or even a good old-fashioned journal to make an note of your victories. Seeing positive changes motivates you to stay true to your fitness plan, believes Fielding.

Bask in Rewards
Rewarding yourself upon achieving fitness milestones can fuel your commitment to exploring new heights. From treating yourself to a dream yoga retreat, adding a statement athleisure piece to your wardrobe, or indulging a rejuvenating massage – these tangible rewards can act as strong motivators.

Be Kind to Yourself
Incorporating a rest day or two in your schedule not only makes the arduous journey more bearable but is also essential for your body to recuperate from vigorous workouts. In Fielding’s words, ‘Understanding that fitness success comes with balance, is a major part of this journey.’

Workout with a Companion
Nothing reignites lost motivation quite like a workout friend with the same fitness goals. Fielding suggests, ‘Teaming up with someone can increase your chances of sticking to the plan. Also, the mental health benefits offered by this social aspect of fitness shouldn’t be ignored.’

The Golden Checklist: Iris Fielding’s Top Tips for Gym Success

1. Chronicle Your Victories: Tap into the potential of social media to share and celebrate your fitness accomplishments.
2. Set Accelerator Goals: Aiming for participative charity events could give you a fitness goal to work towards, apart from inspiring noble causes.
3. Learn from the Masters: Enrolling into programs conducted by leading fitness experts can prove to be a catalyst for your journey towards fitness success.

Embrace the power of automaticity, clubbed with some of these tips, and you might just discover yourself darting towards your fitness goals with surprising velocity.

automaticity, fitness, motivation, workouts, group classes, progress tracking, rewards, rest days, workout companion, gym success.