Ring in the New Year with Planet Fitness!

Getting started with a new fitness routine? Sometimes, that's the easy part! The real challenge is maintaining motivation and consistency over time. 

Studies show that most gym-goers know having a workout buddy helps them stay committed to their fitness routine. But what else can you to keep yourself motivated throughout your journey?

Below, we’ll unpack three simple strategies for anyone feverishly wondering how to get motivated to work out. By understanding your why, setting a plan, and tracking your progress, you can increase your gym motivation, build consistency, and achieve a healthier, happier you!

And because we know it’s easier with a bit of help, don't be afraid to seek out assistance or advice at your local Planet Fitness from uplifting and motivating team members.

The importance of consistent gym motivation

Do you find yourself wondering, "How can I motivate myself to work out?" You're not alone!

You might already be familiar with the many advantages that come with physical and mental health. (Why else would you be looking for encouragement to get started in the first place?)

But keeping the benefits of regular physical activity in mind can actually help boost motivation, so it’s worth a quick review. 

Because if you can maintain your motivation, you’ll not only enjoy the physical benefits of exercise like boosted heart health and muscle strength but also the mental benefits from the endorphins your body releases. (Hello, natural stress reliever!) And, of course, exercise increases energy levels and lowers weariness by regulating sleep patterns and improving sleep quality.

And these benefits aren't just for the here and now. As you steadily build your routine, regular movement can improve your health long-term. Your future self will thank you!

Plus, there's never a bad time to get started. Whether you adopt a regular exercise routine early or a bit later in life, prioritizing movement increases balance and strengthens your bones and joints, which is important as you age.

So, keeping that motivation high is undoubtedly worth the rewards. While we could go on about the benefits that enhance your overall health and happiness, let's dive into how to motivate yourself along your wellness journey.

3 Simple Steps for Motivation

Reaching your fitness objectives requires more than simply a desire to get healthier—it also calls for a disciplined strategy and constant drive. Here are three of our favorite, simple techniques you can get started with to make you unstoppable! 

1: Have a "Why"

Start by determining the deeper motivation behind your fitness quest. Aka, your "why." This will be a vital source of inspiration when you get busy or feel sluggish and want to skip the gym.  

In finding your "why"—the underlying reason you want to take better care of your health—consider what motivates you to go deeper and pinpoint your objectives, such as building strength or reducing stress. Your why should push you toward a balanced approach incorporating various activities, a healthy diet, and enough sleep to prevent boredom and burnout.

To stay motivated, you must see yourself succeeding in a tangible way, whatever that looks like to you—whether carrying the groceries in without huffing and puffing or running a marathon. Then, with the image in your mind, keep a constant eye on your development and make necessary adjustments. Remain inspired by remembering your "why" at difficult times—celebrate minor victories along the way to show appreciation for your efforts and adjust your objectives as you progress and your goals change. 

2: Make a Plan

Creating a realistic fitness plan involves choosing a regimen that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle. It's important to understand what works best for you!

First, decide how many days per week you can commit to working out, and plan your gym commute to fit your daily schedule. Determine your workout splits, such as upper/lower body or full-body workouts, and allocate specific durations for each session. 

But it’s not all go, go, go! You should also schedule rest days to allow recovery and ensure flexibility in your plan to accommodate unexpected changes.

The good news is: just because you have a plan doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible. Consider combining multiple activities to keep your workouts exciting and target various muscle areas. Join classes or ask fitness experts for advice to offer structure and support. By sticking to a workout plan while mixing up your activities and approach over time, you can build a fitness habit that leads to long-term success and improved health.

3: Write it Down

Pics, or it didn’t happen! Ok, you don’t have to take pictures, but documenting your work somehow is extremely motivating.  So, having some sort of fitness journal or tracker is essential to long-term success.  Because we'll let you in on a little secret: writing your goals down can increase the likelihood of achieving them!

You can write down motivations for wanting to get healthier and feel better. Describe your workout days, splits, and other data to provide depth to your fitness strategy. Use a calendar to schedule your workouts. Track progress by keeping a workout log, which can help monitor improvements and keeps you motivated.

But writing doesn’t have to be literal pen and paper to count. Any type of tracking will do, so take advantage of a free fitness app to track your workouts and progress to easily see your gains. Update your progress regularly to stay motivated, and periodically review and adjust your plan and goals to ensure they remain relevant and achievable. 

Overcoming Challenges: How to Motivate Myself to Work Out

We know why we want to stay motivated, but that doesn’t make setbacks any easier. Some days, the gym seems too far, and you can’t convince yourself it’s worth it. That little voice in your head threatens to win once again. Don’t give in!

One way to preemptively prepare yourself for the low-energy days that are sure to come is by setting manageable goals, making your fitness journey both less overwhelming and more attainable. 

Small steps lead to habits and progress, as gradual improvements are easier to maintain and reduce the risk of burnout. Consistent small actions help build long-lasting healthy habits, while frequent small achievements keep motivation high.

Focusing on workout consistency over workout intensity emphasizes regular effort over sporadic, extreme efforts, ensuring steady progress and long-term success. This strategy lets you accomplish your exercise objectives while keeping your program enjoyable and balanced.

Give yourself grace, and make adjustments as needed. Visualize your success for how to stay motivated to workout, and celebrate even the smallest victories to recognize your hard work.

And, of course, seek out the encouragement and accountability of fitness communities, your friends, and family. Explore motivational quotes, and always remember to keep your “why” in mind. Ultimately, use your reasons to maintain long-term commitment and transform your aspirations into tangible results, achieving a healthier, stronger, and more confident you.

In a Nutshell: How to Stay Motivated to Workout

Starting your fitness journey is an essential step toward better health. But keeping that fitness journey on track is another subject entirely. Maintain your motivation and consistency throughout your journey by knowing your "why," creating a practical plan, and monitoring your progress along the way. Mindfully document the reasons behind your fitness goals and develop a plan that fits your lifestyle. Then, use a calendar to schedule sessions and set specific, written goals.

Along the way, track workouts with a fitness app—like the free PF App—and monitor your progress regularly, adjusting your plan as needed. Celebrate milestones to stay motivated and remember your deeper reasons during tough times. By following these steps, you can overcome challenges and achieve your fitness goals, transforming into a healthier, stronger you. 

Read more about how to get motivated to workout or download the free PF App to start your fitness journey today. 

Building consistency in the gym is the key to progress. The tricky part is maintaining the motivation you need to stay on track. We get it—it’s hard!

That’s why we’ve created the ultimate guide to building consistency in your workouts.

Read on for over 20 of our top tips for maintaining consistency and motivation in your fitness routine.

Remember, consistency and dedication are the foundation for long-term success along your fitness journey. You’re not alone—find a Planet Fitness club near you for support and expert guidance when you need it!

Importance of Consistency in Achieving Fitness Goals

Workout consistency is crucial for achieving fitness goals for a few reasons. First, it sets you up to make progress, as regular exercise pushes you to improve over time. Second, consistency creates habits, making exercise a more repetitive part of your lifestyle.

As a result, workout consistency leads to strength, endurance, flexibility, or whatever you’re looking to improve. A regular workout routine also limits setbacks by keeping up momentum and motivation making it easier to turn fitness into a lifelong commitment.

That’s why it should come as no surprise that workouts consistency offers tons of health benefits that contribute to overall well-being and happiness. It’s the key to everything!

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

5 Tips for Workout Motivation and Consistency

We know it’s difficult to maintain anything long-term. But on the path of personal growth, there are ways to help us stick to our journey and unlock a feeling of success. Since fitness is a life-long journey, you’ll need to find motivation along the way that builds your determination so nothing can take you down!

Here are a few tips to build that strong foundation:

1. Set Clear and Achievable Goals

Fitness has no real “finish line,” so it can be difficult to see that you’re making progress unless you set clear and achievable goals along the way. Our human brains are wired to be working toward something, and when we achieve that something, we feel accomplished and proud of ourselves.

Just remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Reaching your goals can take time, and it’s important to celebrate your accomplishments along the way.

Need some inspo to get you started? Here are a few of our favorite types of fitness activities and milestones to work toward along your journey:

• Running or Other Cardio: Set targets for completing running distances like a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or marathon within a designated time frame. Aim to improve running performance by reducing mile time by a certain amount. If running isn’t your thing, that’s OK! Try incorporating walking into your daily routine, focusing on endurance and increasing your distance over time, or check out our Find Your Cardio Match program—free in the PF App—to find the perfect activity for you.

• Strength Training: Over time, challenge yourself while using strength equipment by increasing the weight you use by specific increments. Master bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, or dips with a target number of reps.

• Flexibility and Mobility: Achieve specific milestones—like touching your toes or performing a split—to improve your overall range of motion and flexibility. Deepen stretches and increase flexibility in particular muscle groups to reduce pain or discomfort during physical activities.

• Functional Fitness: Set goals to perform a certain number of functional exercises, such as burpees, squats, or lunges, in a set timeframe to improve overall functional strength and endurance to help with everyday activities and movements. If you’re more advanced in your fitness level and journey, master challenging skills, like chin-ups, for continued skill development.

• Overall Health and Wellness: Improve markers of health such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, or resting heart rate through consistent exercise and healthy lifestyle habits. Increase energy levels and reduce feelings of tiredness throughout the day by setting a goal to move for a certain amount of time each day.

Here’s the deal: setting and achieving clear fitness goals not only guides your progress but also creates a sense of achievement toward improved health and well-being. You got this!

2. Find Your “Why”

Having a goal is great, but to access your full fitness potential, it's important to find your "why." Maybe you want to improve your physical health or maybe . Your “why” is unique to you, as people find fitness motivation in so many different ways, including the search for things like:

• Physical Perks: Regular exercise can lead to many physical health benefits like improved heart health, stronger bones and muscles, and reduced health risks, while playing a key role in weight maintenance.

• Big Fitness Energy™: Physical activity can help combat fatigue, leaving you feeling more energized and productive throughout the day.

• Mental Mojo: Physical activity has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, improve mood, and promote overall mental well-being.

• Quality Zzz’s: Regular exercise can help you sleep longer—and more peacefully—leading to a restful night and increased alertness during the day.

• A Little Brain Power: Physical activity can improve memory and concentration, contributing to better brain health and overall cognitive performance.

• Flexing and Flexibility: Regular workouts such as strength training and mobility exercises help build muscle and improve range of motion, enhancing your overall physical fitness.

• A Confidence Boost: Achieving fitness goals and mastering new skills can boost your self-esteem, improving overall well-being.

• BFFFs (Best Fitness Friends Forever): Exercise provides opportunities for social interaction and connection that can build a sense of community and support, whether through workout partners, group fitness classes, or local sports teams.

• The Long Game: Regular exercise is associated with increased longevity and a higher quality of life as you age, promoting overall health well into your later years.

Whatever your reason—or reasons—make it personal to you. This will keep you motivated when other things fall away.

3. Establish a Routine

Routine is the key to consistency. Ways to help cement a new routine are choosing activities you actually enjoy and allowing yourself to start small and build over time. You can also partner with a friend, family member, or workout buddy for support, accountability, and to track progress together. But whatever happens, remember to stay flexible and reward yourself along the way, even—maybe especially—when you make mistakes.

A well-established routine will serve as a framework for a lifelong commitment to yourself and your well-being.

4. Mix Up Your Workouts

Adding variety to your workouts is important for keeping your fitness routine exciting and effective. Alternating exercises prevents boredom, breaks lulls, and improves results. For instance, knowing when to switch to a new workout routine or focusing on different muscle groups on different days ensures balanced training and adequate rest. Switching activities—like swimming or trying various fitness classes— adds excitement. Embrace all the variety physical activity has to offer to stay motivated and committed to your fitness goals.

5. Accountability and Support

Accountability and support are important when working out because you have someone to help and encourage you.

• Find a Workout Buddy: Partnering with someone provides mutual encouragement, making workouts enjoyable and creating accountability.

• Join a Fitness Class or Group: Participating in group sessions offers camaraderie, motivation, and support from both peers and instructors.

• Tap Into a Personal Trainer: A trainer offers personalized guidance, motivation, and expertise in designing tailored workout plans.

• Use Fitness Apps or Wearable Devices: Technology can help you track progress and set goals, as well as provide reminders to boost accountability and motivation.

• Join an Online Community: Engage with online fitness groups for support, advice, and motivation from people with similar interests and goals.

• Set Up Regular Check-Ins: Schedule meetings with a buddy or trainer to review progress, set new goals, and address challenges.

• Create a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with supportive sayings and people who encourage and motivate you to reach your fitness goals.

• Be Accountable to Yourself: Hold yourself responsible for your actions, decisions, and progress, staying committed and focused on achieving your desired results.

For even more inspiration, check out some of our other favorite workout motivation tips that keep you accountable and ensure you’re enjoying yourself on your unique fitness journey.

Consistency Improves Overall Health and Well-being

Keeping up a regular workout routine is important for your general health and well-being, in addition to helping you achieve your goals. Whether your aim is increased endurance, weight loss, or strength, a regular fitness regimen can help you stay on track with consistency in the gym or at home. It also improves your mental health by lowering stress and elevating happiness. Regular exercise leads to a happier, healthier life by boosting self-confidence as you reach goals.

Get started now for free on the PF App.

A lot of us are looking for more time to work out and more ways to save money. (In fact, it’s probably no surprise that saving money was the most popular New Year’s Resolution for the year.)

So, if you’re looking to get two birds with one stone, you might be thinking, “I wonder if there are any affordable gyms near me?”

It can be tricky to locate a gym that fits your workout needs and budget. Not every affordable gym option has the best value, so how do you find the right one?

Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll help you understand how much it costs to go to the gym, as well as how to get the most value out of an affordable gym membership. 

And if you want to learn about Planet Fitness’ affordable membership options, find a club near you for support and expert guidance on how to get started. 

What is the Average Cost of Gym Memberships?

In 2022, average dues for gym memberships in the US were $59 each month, but that doesn’t tell the whole story since some gyms are way more expensive, and others much cheaper. 

The cost of gym memberships varies depending on a ton of factors—amenities at the gym, location, and club hours, to name a few. 

Pricing Plans & Membership Tiers

It’s pretty rare for gyms to only have a singular membership option. Multiple tiers and pricing plans allow members to customize their exercise experience based on their needs. 

Most gyms offer a basic membership to use the standard gym equipment and a premium option that allows access to additional amenities. Some gyms let you choose between an annual contract and a monthly membership.

So, on the one hand, if you commit yourself to regularly going to the gym all year, an annual contract may be the best option for you. But on the other hand, monthly memberships offer flexibility without a long-term commitment. 

Your gym may also provide additional discounts to your membership or run promotional specials, so be sure to ask a team member for help when you’re exploring options.

Examining Other Costs

Membership cost is one factor, but your membership may also include additional fees such as annual dues, orientation fees, processing charges, and class registration costs. Every gym is different, but these can add up. If you’re aiming to save money, it’s helpful to consider any additional costs.

Sometimes, gyms cost money in ways you never consider. For example, lockers might only be available through rentals, but others might let you use them for free. Even just getting to the gym can cost money. So, unless your gym is within walking distance, you’ll need to consider the cost of any gas, parking, or public transit fares.

Other Factors to Consider

But as we mentioned earlier, cost isn’t everything. A few final things to consider when making a gym membership decision: 

Operating Hours & Availability

You live a busy life. If you want a gym membership, make sure it's open when you’re free to work out. Maybe you like early morning or late night workout sessions. You should focus on finding a gym that will let you access it when you want to.

Community & Atmosphere

If you’re new to exercising or enjoy the social aspect of working out, look for a gym with a welcoming and motivating atmosphere, supportive team members, and workout classes.  You’ll be more interested in returning to the gym if you can tell that folks there want to include you. 

Weighing Your Options

When choosing a gym, there’s a lot to consider. Searching for “cheap gyms near me” will only get you so far. If you want to find an affordable gym, you have to focus on two things: a price that fits your budget and a membership that is supportive and valuable to you on your fitness journey. Ultimately, an affordable gym should provide a high-quality experience that fits your lifestyle and budget.

At Planet Fitness, we believe in providing a high-quality workout experience at an affordable cost. We also have different membership options, so you can pick the one that works best for you.

Our Classic Membership offers the best value on the planet with tons of equipment and clean, spacious facilities in our Judgement Free Zone®. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to your home club, free in-club fitness training, and tons of workouts on the PF App. Plus, being a Planet Fitness member gets you awesome deals & discounts on top brands you love that will fuel your fitness journey.

Our most popular membership—the PF Black Card®—is loaded with perks including use of any Planet Fitness worldwide, bringing a guest every time you work out, access to premium PF+ workouts & discounts, use of the Black Card Spa® where you can relax in massage chairs & HydroMassage™—just to name a few.*

Want to learn more? Visit your local club or get started now for FREE on the PF App.

*Services and perks subject to availability and restrictions. State and local restrictions on tanning frequency with PF Black Card® memberships apply. Participating locations only. See club for details.