I’m having a hard time staying motivated this week in pretty much all aspects of my life. My to-do list doesn’t have a single thing crossed off of it, I’ve been shoving Valentine candy in my mouth every time I turn around, and clutter is building up in piles all over the house.

The one thing that has come easily to me this week has been exercise, and I’ve realized that while there are other things in my life that I don’t have complete control over, I do have the power to find time in my schedule for a workout. Over the past few months, I’ve developed a pretty solid routine based on Body Revolution classes and spinning or other cardio, and even when the rest of my week goes sideways, I know I can count on my workouts. So this week I’m thankful for the routine I’ve built and I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. If you find yourself struggling to get workouts in, set a schedule and stick to it for a week or two. At the beginning of the week, plan out what classes you’ll take or when you’ll do your workouts. Have a plan that can’t be thrown off track by weather or other distractions. Personally, I work out first thing in the morning. That 5:30 a.m. alarm is brutal, but if I push off my workout it rarely happens.

You’ll be surprised to find how much easier it is to make a workout if you don’t have to think about it. Find a routine that works with you and in a few weeks it’ll be second nature. That way, if you have an off week in terms of diet, you won’t have a second strike of not getting your exercise in.

I’m not going to beat myself up for the 27 Hershey’s Kisses that were inhaled in one minute, but I am definitely going to keep my commitment to a Friday morning Zumba class.  What about you?