Known for being a former Mr. Olympia, there’s no better person to ask for workout motivation than Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is still pumping iron at the age of 73.
When it comes to building a structured workout routine, the actor told Men’s Health recently that you need to be consistent with your habits until they become second nature.
“What has kept me consistent is that I never have to think about this. It’s a routine, so it is ingrained in me. There is no thinking, no ‘should I skip the gym today?’ I get out of bed at 5am and everything starts. The next three hours are automatic,” says Schwarzenegger.
“I get out of bed, have my coffee and read the newspaper, then I immediately go on a bike ride to Gold’s Gym, have my workout, and then ride my bike to get some breakfast. At that point, my mind is clear, the hard part is over, and I can focus on work for the rest of the day.”
While going to the gym before work may work for some people, others may not want to have to face a whole day in the office afterwards. Some people may prefer to go after work as their motivation may be relaxing on the couch at home after an exhausting workout. Regardless of the time of day you choose to you work out, you should stick to that time.
“Motivation is important, but routine is what builds consistency. The first month of building a routine isn’t easy, so start small. Maybe the first thing you do when you get out of bed is some pushups and squats. Add something to your routine every week, and then eventually, you’ll have an hour or two hours every morning that are purely automatic and focused on improving yourself,” says Arnie.
A 52 year old fan who had written in his latest newsletter had just begun working out and decided to ask Arnold for some advice on how to muster up the energy to train.
“I find my energy by doing things I love and that bring me closer to my vision. I can be reading a script and I will fall asleep. But then I play a game of chess, which I love, and I’m wide awake and can finish the script.”
Another key to finding the energy to train is having a vision or goal that you want to achieve in mind. That will encourage you to train because you want to make progress towards that goal.
“I woke up at 4:00am to have a zoom with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. That’s even early for me, but I was wide awake because I have a vision of making my environmental summit in Austria a huge success. So find your vision and you’ll find your energy.”
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