I love writing and sharing ideas. For the past 15 years, I’ve written training content for my cycling coaching business Data Driven Athlete.

I’ve written articles on cutting-edge exercise science research, recovery modalities, and dietary supplements; but here’s the thing, none of these topics contribute more to progress than simply training (or exercising) consistently.

Consistency is the simplest, and hardest thing to get right.

Competitive athletes and those training for general strength and fitness face the same challenge: how do you keep showing up year after year.

While competitive athletes might harness more internal motivation than the general population, they still have to figure out how to make training a priority, despite life challenges like:

• Work
• Kids
• Marriage
• Money
• Health

Finding a routine and building habits remain the most important component of training and exercise. If you’re hoping to make progress in sport or exercise, start by building strong habits.

What method of strength training do you enjoy (or best tolerate)? What type of cardiovascular exercise is most resilient in the face of bad weather? Do you enjoy exercise alone, or do you prefer meeting up with others? What time of day is the most resistant to interruption?

To make progress in sport or exercise, start by building habits that durable.