I have now been going to the gym as a daily habit for about a month and a half. Part of making something a successful habit is figuring out how to make it enjoyable on the whole. Without further ado, here are some ways I have made going to the gym more enjoyable so far:

1. Make it easy to get out the door.

I do this by getting everything that I need ready before I’m actually about to leave, so that when the time comes to head out the door, I literally just have to put my shoes on.

2. Make getting to the gym enjoyable.

I drive to the gym. It takes about 5 minutes. I currently play a song while I’m going there. Right now, it’s Flight of the Valkyries. It is ridiculously fun to drive anywhere with a destination in mind listening to this particular song for me. (If you don’t believe me, try it. )

Note: do not become too absorbed in any music while driving, or you then become a hazard.

3. Pick a gym with good ambiance.

My gym has big open spaces, is bright, and has lots of energy - which are things I want in a gym. If you can choose, and you don’t like the ambiance in your one currently, check out other ones nearby.

4. Related to 3., pick a gym with good music. Alternately, get earphones, and create new play lists on a regular basis to keep it interesting.

5. Pick a gym that has good equipment.

This means high-quality, and having lots of options. The latter is because mixing up your workout with different exercises can make it more enjoyable.

6. Before you go, check your energy level. If it’s low, you might need to have a small snack so your body has some energy. Otherwise, you might feel like you’re dragging yourself through your workout.

Note: emphasis is on small. Too large of a snack and you might not feel so good at the gym. Also consider hydration (make sure you have enough water).

7. Get to know the people who work at the gym.

Having relationships with people there can make going there more enjoyable.

Note: if you do this, be careful about making chit-chat too often that can start interrupting your workout. I save this for the end of my workout.

8. Start small in terms of time, and gradually increase. This gives you time to figure out lots of things along the way (such as how to make things enjoyable).

This also allows you to focus on prioritizing your workouts, so that you get the most important stuff done first, and to figure out how to do alternating sets without ‘waiting’ in between, so you can get lots done in a relatively short period of time.

9. Get progress. For weight-lifting, this means a few key things:

a) Going often enough that, within a few weeks, you start making noticeable progress. I recommend going daily, with an A day, B day schedule (so 48 hrs between same muscle workouts, with a day resting thrown in here or there once every week and a half or so).

b) Getting enough protein. You want to get at least 100g per day (I recommend 120g), spaced out throughout the day in no more than 35g amounts, including right after your workout. The easiest way I’ve found to do this is 3 protein shakes (= about 100g), and then various other foods which bring it to > 120g.

c) Keep in good health, which generally means avoiding injury and things like colds or the flu. This means using proper form during exercises, which can also help with development. To find out about proper form, ask someone like an attendant, or read up on the exercises. Keeping healthy also means more general stuff, like reducing sources of stress, eating well, getting lots of good bacteria (I recommend 2% plain probiotic yogurt), getting consistently good sleeps (I also recommend a 15 min. nap half-way through the day), and so on.

Without a sense of progress, you will probably start feeling frustrated, instead of enjoying it.

10. Enjoy the compliments people start giving you when you start looking good. “Thank you” is sufficient as a reply.

Have fun!