It’s so easy to fall into a rut with working out. You start the year full of motivation, your calendar’s color-coded, your intentions are good - and then suddenly it’s a random Tuesday, you’re exhausted, and even the idea of putting on workout clothes feels like too much. We've all been there. And honestly? It’s normal. Movement stops feeling exciting, starts to feel like a chore, and that’s when it slips - which sucks, because it means you start losing all the energy, strength, and progress you worked hard for.

When I'm not traveling, I work out almost every day, and when I'm home for a longer stretch of time that can start to get so repetitive, so fast that my commitment begins to waiver. 

The key to truly staying active means finding ways to keep a daily habit from getting so stale you can't take it anymore. It doesn’t have to be rigid or boring, and it definitely doesn’t have to mean expensive gear, 6 a.m. classes, or militant schedules. You don’t need to overhaul your life. You just need to shake it up a bit - shift your perspective, try something new, and bring some actual fun back into it.

1. Change It Up - Often

Doing the same workout over and over is a guaranteed fast-track to burnout. Even if it’s “working,” your brain gets bored, your body adapts, and eventually, the whole thing starts to feel like something you have to do instead of something you want to do. That’s when resentment kicks in.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, but adding variety matters. Swap your usual route for a new neighborhood walk. Try a YouTube Pilates flow if you’re sick of HIIT. Do something slower. Or weirder. Or funnier. Even if you hate it, you’ve still moved your body, learned something, and broken the cycle. That counts for more than you think. Recently, I've started doing Caribbean dance cardio videos, which is something I have 0 experience with - but working my brain and my body while trying to figure out the choreography has made cardio so much more fun again.

I love Classpass for this - if you live in a city that has enough studio options. I've been a member both in the original days when I lived in NYC, and for years after moving to Los Angeles. The variety and the forced commitment has always kept me on schedule - once you've already paid for a class, you are much less likely to skip it. 

2. Make It Social - Or Not

Some people thrive in a group. They feed off energy, sweat, chaos, and shared struggle. If that’s you, lean into it. Invite a friend on your walk, join a local running club, or find group workout classes that keeps things interesting. Community makes a difference - even if you’re all just wheezing together in a parking lot at 7 a.m.

Not a group person? Cool. You don’t have to be. But don’t overlook the power of a good soundtrack or podcast to keep you company. Movement doesn’t have to be silent suffering. You can laugh, think, zone out, or completely dissociate with a chaotic 2010s playlist. Choose your own adventure.

3. Pay Attention To What Actually Feels Good

There’s so much noise around what you should be doing - running, weights, trendy apps, hardcore routines. But if you’re forcing yourself through something you hate just because someone said it works, you won’t keep doing it. Full stop.

Instead, notice what your body craves. What leaves you feeling better afterward? What gives you energy instead of draining it? That’s what matters. That’s what you’ll stick with. If something makes you feel lighter, calmer, or more you, that’s not just exercise - that’s medicine. So do more of that.

4. Switch Between Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks

What you choose to listen to while you move can completely reshape the experience, turning a routine workout into something that actually feels enjoyable - or at the very least, bearable. On high-energy days, blasting familiar songs with a strong beat can push you forward before your brain even has time to protest, acting as pure momentum in sonic form. On slower days, a good podcast can hijack your attention just enough to distract you from the effort, making it easier to keep going without thinking too hard about what your body is doing. And then there are those quieter, more introspective moments when an audiobook becomes the perfect companion - something immersive enough to pull you in, but steady enough to let your movement fall into a rhythm.

Switching between these options keeps your routine from falling flat, and helps you stay in tune with what your mind actually needs on any given day. There’s no need to commit to just one type of listening - let the sound match your energy, your mood, or even the kind of escape you’re craving. The right audio can carry you through more than just a workout; it can completely reframe the way movement feels.

I've fallen in love with audiobooks in the past year and started listening to my current book while I take my dog out for her longer walk every afternoon. A good book and a 2 or 3 mile walk flies by.

5. Let Go Of “All Or Nothing” Thinking

The fastest way to derail your fitness mindset? Believing that if it’s not intense, it’s pointless. That unless it’s a full hour, drenched in sweat, or burning 500 calories, it doesn’t count. This is how people quit.

Even ten minutes matters. A brisk walk counts. Stretching in your kitchen while waiting for your coffee? Still movement. Not everything has to be epic. Not everything has to hurt. Just do something - anything - and let that be enough. Perfectionism is what kills progress.

6. Get Outside and Go For a Hike

Sometimes the simplest fix is also the most effective: go outside. No gym, no mat, no schedule. Just you, the trail, and whatever weather is happening. Hiking is one of the most underrated ways to reset both mentally and physically. There’s no pressure to hit a certain pace or hit a calorie goal - you’re just moving forward, surrounded by real air and real sky, and that alone can snap you out of a burnout spiral faster than any playlist.

And the best part? You don’t have to live near epic national parks to make it happen. Look up nearby nature preserves, coastal paths, neighborhood hills, or even just a long stretch of quiet streets. The change of scenery alone does wonders. Plus, hiking taps into something primal - it feels good in a way treadmills never will. When everything feels stale, take it outside.

7. Work It Into the Background Noise

If carving out a full workout window feels impossible, or if your brain just doesn’t want to "exercise" right now, try layering movement into the things you’re already doing. Think: squats while your pasta’s boiling, calf raises while brushing your teeth, planks during TV commercials, or stretching while binge-watching Netflix. One of the easiest things to do is to tuck a set or two of weights under your couch and just pick them up while you watch tv in the evening, it can be surprising how much you can get in.

It might not seem obvious, but it adds up. You don’t have to be in leggings or have a timer going - you just have to move. No pressure, no structure, just micro-movements that stack up over time. Fitness doesn’t have to be some separate, serious thing. Sometimes it’s just being a little less still than you were yesterday.

8. The Key to a Healthy Life... Imperfect Consistency

My favorite phrase when it comes to life in general is imperfect consistency. Not every day or week will be perfect, and ultimately, you really don't want them to be. But always coming back to your routine keeps you fit for life.