A common question every fitness enthusiast will deal with at some point is, “when do you know it’s time to change-up your workout routine?”
This can be a challenge for a lot of people, especially those who do not like change. For some of you, it took a while to find something you really like to do and can stick to with on a consistent basis. In fact, the thought of changing that up might not be all that appealing to you.
But the fact is that change can be good when it comes to fitness and there are times where it’s absolutely necessary.
Some fitness experts suggest changing things up every six to eight weeks to avoid a plateau. While this might be a good basic rule to follow, you can’t always rely on a set period of time – especially if you’re still seeing results.
I suggest you learn how to use your body and mind when it comes to knowing when the time is right to mix things up. Here are 5 key signs that will tell you it’s time for a change:
You’re Not Seeing Results
This is probably the most obvious reason to change your routine. When it’s no longer doing what it’s supposed to do and producing the results you want to see, that’s a clear sign your body needs a switch.
Those who do the same workout all of the time are likely to hit a plateau much sooner than those who mix up their fitness routines.
A little variety or change in routine could be just the thing you need to get those last 10 pounds off or push through that strength plateau you’ve been stuck at.
Your Workouts Are Boring
Maybe you’re doing something that you really used to enjoy, but now it’s just become a bore. That can easily happen when it comes to fitness routines. A big part of sticking to regular workouts is enjoying what you’re doing. When you lose that, motivation is sure to take a dive.
Maybe it’s time to try a new activity or class or even hire a coach to mix things up for you. It could even be as simple as mixing up your workout playlist or asking a friend to join you for some workouts.
Even a slight change can make your workouts more fun and interesting and give you something to look forward to.
Your Workouts Have Become Too Easy
The body has an amazing way of adapting to the same workout routine. Over time those workouts have a tendency to become quite easy.
If you find you’re not being challenged by your current routine, it’s time to up the intensity.
Maybe you’ll want to add in some HIIT (high intensity interval training) to your regular cardio routine. You could also increase your weights to focus more on strength. If you used to find a weight challenging for 8-12 reps of a certain exercise but now can easily get through it, that’s a sure sign it’s time to up the resistance.
Listen to your body. While you shouldn’t be completely wiped out after a workout, you should know that you did something and feel a bit more energized throughout the day.
Your Goals Have Changed
This one is quite common in the fitness world, yet many people don’t adjust their workouts to meet their new goals.
Let’s say you met your fat loss goal. Now you want to focus on building some more muscle and increasing your strength. Doing the same routine that helped you lose the fat won’t help with your new goal of building muscle. You must change your workouts to accommodate your new goals.
Goal setting is a great way to stay consistent in your workouts. It serves as a guide in helping you make any needed adjustments to your workout routine.
You’re Consistently Tired & Sore
Exercise should leave you feeling energized and not consistently tired and beat-up. If you’re feeling rundown and sore most of the time, it could be a sign that you’re overtraining.
Your body needs time for rest and recovery in order to let your muscles repair and rebuild. Without this, you may find you’re losing strength and/or endurance when it comes to your workouts.
You may need to take some time off or add in some active recovery days. Give your body the rest it needs to perform at its best.