4 Editor-Approved Tips for Creating a No-Pressure Workout Routine

Everyone has off days — even hardcore fitness buffs! Expecting to always lift heavier or run faster than you did last time is setting yourself up for failure. Instead of focusing on what you think you should be able to achieve, think of any workout as a good workout, like Kathleen does. “I tell myself that some movement is better than nothing. That motto gets me off the couch, which is the toughest part,” she said. “Taking the pressure off myself helps get me excited to just get outside and move.”

On weekdays, Senior Editor Victoria Moorhouse usually wakes up early to squeeze in a workout before logging onto her laptop — but she allows herself a little more leniency on the weekends. “On Saturdays, I give myself the best of both worlds — I turn off my alarm, so I can wake up naturally,” she said. “After a cup of coffee and a cuddle with my dog on the couch, I’m ready to jump into a HIIT workout or warm up through a yoga flow.”