You want to be healthy and stay fit but you always find yourself getting distracted. Life gets in the way; the regular pull of the nine-to-five and your kids’ extra-curriculars. Or sometimes it’s the unexpected distractions, like someone in the famil

y gets the flu or you head on an impromptu trip to the country for the weekend. The key is working through the distractions. There are a few different things you need to do to successfully get your fitness routine back on track.

1) Get the first workout out of the way.

The hardest part is getting started. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way—you just have to force yourself to take that first step! It can be daunting, but the trick is to do it in pieces. Head to a yoga or aerobics class, but don’t worry yourself by thinking about the second or the third—just make it through the first! Or, it might be easier to ease yourself back into it by doing something you really enjoy— take a dance class, go for a hike, or try surfing or snowboarding. The most important thing is to focus on the first workout as something independent of your entire fitness program.

2) Find a friend.

Find someone else with similar goals, and help keep each other motivated. If you make a commitment to someone else, it’s a lot harder to turn your back on your workout—and on your friend. It’s not just yourself you’re letting down by hitting the snooze button instead of the stair climber, but someone else who is counting on you.

3) Set a realistic workout schedule.

It is fantastic to be ambitious and hope to attend the gym every day, five times weekly or even three or four times a week, but if it has been a long time since you maintained a regular workout schedule, it may be best to start small and work up to something ideal. Commit to twice-weekly workouts initially, and make one of them something fun that you’ll look forward to. It will become progressively easier to attend the gym more often.

4) Set goals.

One of the best ways to stick to a fitness routine is to set goals for yourself. But, make sure these goals are attainable. Don’t strive to lose 10 pounds in a week, but it’s not a bad idea to aim towards a longer distance on the treadmill, or a higher weight with the leg press. This will keep you motivated throughout the days and weeks, and you’ll experience a real sense of accomplishment when you reach your goals.

5) Develop a home workout.

You might aim to get to the gym most days, but there will always be those days when it just seems impossible. The good news it, it’s not as hard as you might think to develop a workout space at home. You can purchase dumbbells, mats, therabands, kettlebells, stability balls… the list is endless, and you can get a great workout with just a couple of pieces of equipment. Live near a playground? Get fit by playing on the monkey bars—and there are lots of other great exercises you can do there, too. Be creative, and make time for exercise no matter where you are.

6) Remember that every little bit counts.

Don’t forget, you can also find little ways to get exercise throughout your day. Walk to work, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Keep your eyes open for any small changes you can make to increase your activity level. Also, don’t be discouraged if you feel like you aren’t doing as much with your workouts as you should. You’re getting out there, and that’s the most important part! Be proud of yourself for making time for exercise at all, rather than beating yourself up about it not being enough.