The Power of a Fitness Schedule

6 Powerful Benefits of a Fitness Schedule

A common mistake individuals often make when it comes to fitness is not having a schedule. Regardless of your specific fitness goals, a training plan is important and can be the deciding factor in your fitness formula to achieving your desired results. It is a tool that provides a myriad of perks to both your physical and mental well-being as well as your overall life. Below is a list of key benefits of incorporating a fitness plan into your regime. 

Prevents Under or Over Training

One of the most beneficial reasons for developing a fitness plan is to avoid under or overtraining. Without a clear fitness program, you will most likely find yourself piecing together different exercises with no focus. When a workout (or a series of workouts) lacks balance, we may lean on performing one type of training possibly due to what is familiar or comfortable and end up over working certain body parts and ignoring others. A fitness plan will ensure you are developing a balanced workout of strength, flexibility, and cardio training each week. 

Prevents Burnout

Not having a fitness plan can lead to burnout. A fitness plan can avoid this in two ways. First, your training program should be changing every few months. This will keep training from getting repetitive and keep your motivation high as you constantly challenge yourself with new movements and exercises. Second, individuals often burnout because they are working out too much. However, a schedule will provide you with an ideal time suited for you and your fitness goals.

 Provides Structure and Efficiency 

Developing a fitness plan provides you with structure. Rather than aimlessly wandering around deciding what exercises to do next or wasting your time with boring workouts that fail to produce results, you will have a proven guide and formula to refer to. It will also tell you exactly what exercises to perform and the number of reps and sets. Everything is laid out giving you a direction which will also make working out more efficient and effective!

Creates Consistency

Reaching your fitness goals requires constant effort. A workout here or there may temporarily relieve your guilty conscience, but it certainly won't give you the results you want. A workout plan will help you achieve greater consistency. Committing to a regular workout routine will reinforce fitness into your life and the more ingrained your workout regime becomes in your normal day, the more consistent you will be. Schedule specific days and times for your physical activity into your plan and stick to them.

Builds Habits

To achieve and maintain your fitness goals, a regular workout regime along with other components must be rooted into your daily routine. A training program is a good way to form a habit (Hall). By consistently adhering to your schedule, you begin to form a habit of prioritizing fitness. Since you are already held accountable, it eliminates the danger of falling into the “I’ll do it tomorrow” pattern. Over time, working out will become second nature and you’ll have integrated valuable and rewarding habits into your life. 

Prioritize Rest Days

Contrary to popular belief, more is not always better when it comes to workouts. While it is important to be active most days, rest days are just as important to give your body sufficient time to repair and refuel. Any fitness expert will agree that rest days are not optional, but rather essential (Sinrich). Avoiding rest days can cause injuries or overtraining, which will eventually force you to take some rest days—whether you like it or not. A well-designed exercise program—one that will help you meet your goals—includes adequate rest to fully recover from the stresses of hard exercise.

A fitness plan is essentially a blueprint to success. With a plan, you’ll be able to better incorporate fitness into your lifestyle while also greatly enhancing your ability to meet and maintain your fitness goals. Good luck!