Why Tracking Your Workouts Can Be A Helpful Tool
Keeping up with working out can be difficult when you do not feel the same motivation as you did in the beginning. As motivating a healthy lifestyle can be, there are some hiccups along the way. Self-discipline is a tool and a strength that is used to continue to power though your workouts even when you have lost your motivation. Keeping track of your workouts is a great way to not only improve your self-discipline, but to keep you moving as well.
This post discusses different ways that you can use to keep track of your workouts and seven reasons why you should! I also discuss the methods I use to stay on top of my fitness.
How to Keep Track of Your Workout
There are many ways to track your workout routines. With today’s day and age, there are many mobile friendly devices to help to keep you on track. Some fitness apps that you could use on your phone are:
If you are like me, then you may prefer to utilize a more outdated approach to workout tracking: Journaling! I have come to find that I enjoy writing out everything; lists, schedules, workouts, you name it. I provided details on how I keep track down below. Regardless of how you prefer to track your workout routine, here are seven reasons as to why you should consider it!
1. You Can Track Your Progress.
Tracking your workouts help to track your progress over time. As you continue your way though, you can look back on your previous workouts. You can see how far you have come and what you have completed. Seeing your progress helps to keep you motivated to keep going!
2. It Keeps You Accountable.
Having a place where you keep all your workout progress and information can keep you accountable. When you are accountable for your workouts, you work to build your self-discipline. Self-discipline will help you stay on top of exercising.
3. It is A Reminder of Why You are Exercising.
Tracking can also be used as a reminder for why you are working out. Working out is beneficial for the body for so many different reasons (stress relief, better sleep, feeling happier, being strong etc.), and being able to identify those reasons can be reflected in tracking. For example, this can be seen with the type of workout you are focusing on based on your fitness goals. Knowing what you are working towards is a great reminder as of why you are moving your body.
4. You Know What You are Doing.
Having a place to track everything provides you with an idea of what you are doing in general. When you do not have a plan to follow, it can be difficult to keep up with your workouts. If you are a super human and are able to track your workouts purely through memory, then that’s awesome! If you are like me and need a reminder of what to do from day to day, tracking can do just that.
5. It is A Place to Jot Down or Type Out Notes.
Another great aspect of tracking is it provides a place to take notes! You can take notes on your workout, what you need to change, how you felt, or what you should do differently. This is a great tool to help you stay mindful in your exercise routine. As our bodies become stronger, it is great to note what you may need to increase or intensify. Depending on where you are at in your fitness journey, you may need to take note of what may feel like too much for you at that time. It is important to listen to your body so that you can prevent injuring yourself. Making notes here and there for adjustment is great for just that.
6. You Can Make It Specific to Your Own Goals.
Again, we are all different and unique. So are our bodies change and grow in their own unique. Meaning that your exercise routine and goals are unique for yourself and your body. Being able to track what you are doing allows you to understand your body better so that you can change your routine to meet your body’s needs. In turn, being able to make changes that work for your body helps you get closer to your fitness goals.
7. It Can Be Enjoyable.
If you love to plan and organize like me, then you may find tracking to be very enjoyable! You may not like planning everything, so you can keep it super simple and straight to the point. If you are the complete opposite and find tracking to be a burden, then do not force yourself to! The whole point of living a healthy lifestyle is learning what works for your body and what does not work for your body. There are many ways to keep track of your workout routine, so find the one that works the best for you. This way you will find it enjoyable too!
How I Track My Workouts
To keep up on my exercise routine, I use both a journal and my Erin Condren planner.
My Leather-Bound Journal
I use a leather-bound journal with two notebook inserts, specifically for my health and fitness. That is, one notebook is designated for daily journaling and the other tracks my workouts. It is here where I keep track of the workouts I have completed, my measurements, and the day-to-day breakdown of the programs I want to complete.
The day-to-day program break down is set up as a system of listed days and check boxes where each check box equals a video I am to complete. The listed days for the program is either active days or rest days. Each active day has a few check boxes specific to the number of videos I am to complete for that day. As I complete a video, I go in and check of the box for that video. I find this method to be the most motivating because I watch the check boxes fill up as I move my way through the program.
My Daily Planner
My Erin Condren planner is utilized in combination with my journal to keep track of what program days I am to complete on which days of the week for the month. This is helpful because I am constantly switching between workout programs as I complete them.
I write out the day number or rest day for each day of the week in my weekly calendar. This way I can keep track of my workouts for the current days of the week. I also find this to be helpful because when I get busy with school or life, it helps to keep me on track with the current workout program I am on.
If you want to know what workout programs that I use to stay fit at home, check out my post Working Out from Home: Chloe Ting Edition!
Let’s Chat!
How do you stay on top of your exercise routine? If you found this post useful or have any other suggestions to share, leave them in the comments down below!
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