Anyone who has started a workout routine knows the high that comes with early motivation. Maybe you’ve set a new goal, joined a gym, or just decided it’s time for a change—and in those early days, everything feels exciting. But eventually, the alarm goes off a little too early, your schedule gets thrown off, or the soreness sets in. That initial burst of energy fades. And that’s exactly where discipline steps in.

Motivation is like a spark—it can get you started, but it’s not designed to last forever. It’s emotional and unpredictable. Some days you’ll feel excited to hit the gym, but many days you won’t. If you rely solely on motivation, your fitness journey will likely start and stop repeatedly. Discipline, however, is built through consistency. It’s what keeps you showing up, even when your mind is full of excuses or your day has been less than ideal.

Discipline says, “I do this because I’ve committed to it,” not “I do this because I feel like it today.”

How Long Does It Take to Settle into a Routine?

Everyone needs a starting point and forming that new habit—like working out regularly—takes time, repetition, and a bit of grace. Research varies, but on average, it takes about two to three months (roughly 66 days) for a behavior to become automatic. That doesn’t mean it’ll feel effortless after two months, but it will start to feel normal.

For most people, the first few weeks are the hardest. That’s when your body is adjusting physically and your schedule is adapting mentally. Around weeks 4 to 6, you begin to feel progress, whether it’s more energy, better sleep, or small performance gains. By the 8-week mark, many people report that workouts have become a regular part of their weekly rhythm—even if they still need a little push now and then.

A supportive community, clear goals, and having access to a consistent class schedule or programming—like what’s offered with an Everhard Fitness membership—can make a huge difference during this adjustment phase. Whether you’re going to five classes a month or working out six days a week, the key is just to start and build from there.

What Happens When You Take a Month Off?

I get it. Life happens. Maybe you go on vacation, get sick, or your workload spikes—and suddenly, it’s been a month since your last workout. While rest days and even short breaks can be beneficial, a full month off can cause noticeable setbacks.

Here’s what you might experience after a month away from training:

• Cardiovascular endurance drops first. You may feel winded doing workouts that used to feel manageable.
  
• Strength and muscle tone start to decline. You might not lift as heavy or feel as stable during certain movements.
  
• Your mental edge weakens. The discipline you built starts to erode, and self-doubt or procrastination can creep in.
  
• Re-establishing your routine is harder. The longer the break, the more mental effort it takes to get back into a rhythm.
  

But the good news? Muscle memory is real. Once you restart, your body will respond faster than it did the first time around. You’ll still need to ease in and listen to your body, but you’re not starting from scratch. The key is not to let that month off turn into several.

Final Thoughts

If you’re waiting to feel motivated before committing to a workout routine, you’ll probably be waiting a long time. The people you see at the gym day after day don’t show up because they’re always motivated—they show up because they’ve built discipline. They’ve put systems in place, made it part of their identity, and found a community that keeps them accountable.

Seeing the same faces alone is a big reason group classes are so effective. Walking into the same class hour every day with a workout carefully crafted for you knowing the others in the class are also about to go through it, is very motivating. And the coaching staff at these gyms know that no two people are the same. Some are just beginning, others are bouncing back after time off, and many are learning how to stay consistent. That’s why every movement in class can be modified, and why any good coach will prioritize safety while pushing you to perform.

Whether you’re going five times a month or grinding through class six days a week, the real progress comes from discipline—not motivation. So if you’re not feeling it today? Show up anyway. That’s how real transformation begins.

written by: Jonathan Atkinson