There may have been a point of time in your life where you may have to stop your rigorous fitness routine. Whatever the reason, when the time is right, you may find yourself wanting to get back to the gym. Getting to where you were before can be a challenging process that doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes small steps to help you get to the level you want to be at.

Start Slow

Setting expectations after a long time away from the gym is important. Everyone is different, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’ll need to work hard to get your body and mind back into the condition they were in previously. Your body has almost certainly changed during your break. As such, don’t attempt to immediately relaunch into your old routine. Start slow, and be sure to go easy on yourself.

Get Help

There are a variety of nutritionists, professional trainers, and other experts who can help you to get started working out again. Physical therapists can also work with you to help build your strength back up and make sure you don’t injure yourself. A physical therapist may be a good person to work with if you had to stop exercising due to an injury. They can offer helpful strategies or recommendations on how you can get started exercising again or how you can potentially overcome any mental blocks that are stopping you from working out to your fullest potential.

Schedule a Time

Working out can be hard enough, but it’s particularly difficult if you have a busy life. This is where scheduling a time to workout can be very helpful. If you schedule a time, you set a marker in your head for when you’re going to do your workout. This means that you’ll be more likely to be physically and mentally prepared. You can alter the rest of your schedule accordingly, which can limit excuses for not wanting to exercise. The act of scheduling a workout makes it that much easier for you to exercise because it puts your mind in a more likely place to do the workout.

Working out is hard. Getting back into shape after a long absence can be even harder. Remember to go easy on yourself and take the time you need. You won’t be in the same shape you were previously, but the good news is that it likely won’t be hard to pick up old exercise habits again.