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In implementing change in your everyday life, there is nothing more powerful than setting a regimented schedule or routine. Your routine will help you in several areas.

Motivation: Regardless of how pumped you may be with the idea of getting in shape right this moment, or even this week, your interest will inevitably taper off at times. This is when your routine kicks in. There will, more than likely, be days where you exercise solely because you have kept to your schedule thus far. You won’t want to break your streak. Your weight won’t bother you, your health won’t interest you, but you’ll ask yourself: “Do I really want to stop NOW, after I’ve exercised every day for 65 days?”. No, you don’t want to.

Eliminate the “no time” excuse: If you set up a schedule, and work exercise in to it, you will be eliminating the old “I just don’t have the time” excuse. You had the time yesterday, and the day before that, you can make the time today.

Beyond that, there are several things you can do to help yourself get into your routine, and remind yourself why you need to keep going:

Write down your goal: You don’t have to be specific. A simple “I am spending 20 minutes a day exercising because I am self-conscious about my weight. I feel I would have more confidence if I was in better shape” written on an index card and carried in your pocket is all you need.

If you don’t want to carry it with you, put it where you plan on exercising. Tape it to the wall, if you have to.

Make a list of the positive things you will gain from keeping to your regimen. It might look something like this:

Clothes will fit better
Better luck with women/men
The beach factor
Better shape as I age
More energy

Keep the list in the same spot you keep your goal-statement.

Tip: Keeping both the list and the goal-statement someplace you will see it when you first wake up is always a good idea. Live alone? Consider taping them to your medicine cabinet’s mirror.