It’s summertime and that means more people have the time to go to the gym and attempt to eat healthier. Starting a new school year in better shape sounds enticing, but the siren call of Netflix binges and ice cream often sounds even more enticing. The truth is, at the beginning, going to the gym every day is a drag and you will want to give up, but there are a few easy things you can do to make that drag a little less horrible. Over time, going to the gym will become a habit and maybe something you will look forward to. The staff at the front desk of your gym might learn your name and you may even make a few gym friends. You’ll quickly see that going to the gym isn’t as bad as it first seems. First, however, you need to get there, so here are a few simple steps to make going to the gym a bit less horrible.

1.Find a gym

This sounds simple enough and to be honest it is. However, if you ever actually want to go to the gym make sure that you find some place that is convenient. This might be a ten-minute drive from home, on your route to work or on your campus at school or work. Also, make sure that this gym has variety. After three weeks walking on the treadmill for an hour every day, you are going to be bored and give up, so find a gym with cardio machines (ellipticals, treadmills, stairs, and stationary bikes at a minimum), a weight room with free weights and machines, a pool (if you’re lucky), and group classes. Being able to have the option to do different things every day will ensure that you don’t get bored.

2. Wear workout clothes and shoes that you like

You don’t have to spend a ton of money on exercise clothes, but make sure that you actually want to wear them. If they’re too big or too small or uncomfortable you won’t want to wear them either. If you like your workout clothes you’ll feel excited to put them on which will encourage you to create a time to workout just so you can wear them. That being said, you don’t have to spend tons of money on your workout clothes. Forever 21 has tons of cute and affordable clothes and there are tons of workout DIYs all over the internet to create workout gear from what you already own. Sneakers, however, are another story. You want to invest in a good pair of shoes that fit you and are comfortable. A blister or a twisted ankle are enough to put you out of the gym for a few days. A few of my favorite brands: clothing and shoes

3. Make a plan and try your hardest to stick to it

Make a workout plan. This could be detailed like exactly what you are going to do each day (i.e. Monday: yoga class at 8 Tuesday: 30min elliptical and 30 min ab/booty circuit etc.) or as simple as listing which days you will work out in the gym, which days you will exercise on your own and which days will be rest days. If you don’t have any plan, then you will often find yourself saying “I’ll go tomorrow” or making excuses as to why you don’t need to workout. If you have trouble making said schedules or have trouble figuring out what kind of workouts and exercises you should do each day, there are tons of guides and pre-made schedules on Pinterest and many “exercise gurus” have their own guides (My favorite).

4. Drink a lot of water and make it enjoyable to drink

If you workout and don’t drink enough water you will feel draggy and ill and will cramp more often which will make working out unpleasant. Luckily, there is an easy solution to that: drinking a ton of water. Bring a water bottle with you everywhere you go, not just to the gym. Everyone likes different water bottles for the gym, but I recommend water bottles without a straw or those that require you to squeeze the bottle (These are too much work when you're on mile four on the elliptical) and Nalgene or similar wide-mouthed bottles (you’re going to spill all over yourself, trust me). A few good ones are this, this, this, and this. Additionally, adding fruit to your water, especially when working out, makes drinking it more fun (and can have added benefits). Some of the classic options include lemon, cucumber, or strawberries and mint. There are hundreds of possibilities, so find something that you like and have fun with it!

5. Take rest days

You don’t have to be at the gym every day, actually, you shouldn’t be at the gym everyday. Your body needs time to process the work that you have done, your muscles need time to relax and grow, and you need time to rejuvenate. With that being said, don’t make every day a rest day. Try not to take multiple days in a row as “rest days” because they will soon become “I just don’t want to go to the gym days”.

6. Don’t expect immediate results

I hate to break it to you, but one day at the gym will not give you a six pack or a killer butt no matter how many crunches or squats you do. It’ll take weeks if not months to see results. They say that it takes six weeks of working out and good eating for your close friends and family to see your hard work and eight weeks for everyone else to notice. With that being said, you will have improvements every week, so take progress pictures and weigh and measure yourself. Maybe you lose half an inch off your waist, 3 pounds in the first week, or can lift 25 more pounds than you could two weeks ago. Celebrate the victories and don’t get discouraged! Everyone’s body works differently, so results will be different for everyone and really, all that matters is becoming healthier.

7. Finally, and most importantly, make working out fun!

Find a workout buddy or join a running group. Don’t do machines every day, instead, take a class or go for a hike. Listen to something while you workout: music, audiobooks, podcasts,etc. Don’t be afraid to try something new like white water rafting, obstacle courses, canoeing, tai chi, or surfing. Find groups especially for working out. This could be a group at your gym, an online community, or a group of friends. If you are really dreading the gym, you can at least walk a few miles and catch Pokemon while you do it :-).