What People Who Work Out Every Day Do Differently

While motivation and drive certainly play a role in maintaining a consistent daily routine, most Peloton instructors (and avid exercisers) will tell you that habits beat willpower every time. Read on for the things that Peloton Members and experts do to ensure they're able to make fitness an everyday part of their life.

They Start Short

When just starting out, committing to exercising at all can feel impossible, let alone exercising for 30 or 60 minutes every day. That’s why Peloton Members agree that starting with 15- and 20-minute rides is the best way to form a daily habit. And the reason is simple: It’s much easier to find 15 minutes in your busy day than it is to find 60. Although, say members, once you’re hooked on the high you get from a 15-minute ride you’ll be much more likely to carve out time for a longer one.

They Put It in Pen

“I schedule my fitness. The last thing I do at the end of the day is look over my schedule for the next day and plan for exactly what time I’ll work out,” says Alison Helig, author of The Durable Runner: A Guide to Injury-Free Running. She explains that treating your workout as something that’s just as important as a professional meeting or a can’t-miss appointment will help you keep the commitment to do it every day. “If it’s there, scheduled out, I’ll do it,” adds Helig. “And then I get a little bonus shot of joy when it’s done and I get to cross it off my to-do list for the day too.”

They Use Challenges and Badges

Having ways to measure your success against others and yourself will challenge you to work out, even on days when sweating is the last thing on your mind. That’s why Peloton Members love the Power Zone Pack Challenge, in which riding as a member of a team who your teammates are counting on adds an additional impetus to commit even on sluggish days. For non-Power Zone riders, participating in monthly mileage challenges and earning badges for milestones, streaks, and special events help reward you on your fitness journey and support you in getting to your next goal.

They Dress the Part

Looking for an easy way to help make a workout happen? One Peloton Member changes into her workout clothes immediately after getting out of bed if she’s riding in the morning and the minute she gets home from work when she rides in the evening. That’s smart because the longer you sit in your pajamas or in your work clothes, the less likely you are to get on the Bike—and conversely, once you’re in your athletic wear the chances that you’ll skip your workout are slim to none.