Bonus: N2L reader tips — how to make exercise a habit in 2025

From apps and AI-generated workout plans to a 'ruck in the trunk,' these tools and tactics will inspire you to get it done.

Warmup

Happy holidays.

Last week we wrapped up a five-part series on how to make exercise “non-negotiable.” We’re now ready to reimagine our limits — and stick to our resolutions — in 2025.

Today we’re curating some excellent NOT TOO LATE (N2L) reader tips shared during this series. I’m already adopting some of them myself — and they are good.

Let’s get it done.

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Here’s what we covered so far in this series:

Pre-programming and Time-Blocking (Posted 11/17/24)

Visual Cues & Accessibility (Posted 11/24/24)

Data & Tracking (Posted 12/1/24)

The Double-Up Pledge (Posted 12/9/24)

Completion Signaling (Posted 12/15/24)

BONUS: N2L Reader Tips (TODAY)

And now, for the N2L reader tips (very lightly edited).

Apps and a “ruck in the trunk”

Mike Collins

I use an app called Streaks that has the various physical activities I want to do each week (ruck, weights, bike, Krav Maga) and the days I want to do them. It helps to keep me accountable to myself.

We were gifted a full Olympic barbell bench and plates from a good friend so my weights are in my basement. I leave my ruck in my trunk so on rucking days after I drop my son at school I park, throw it on and walk the neighborhood before starting work. I try to ride my bike at least 4 nights a week after dinner as a nice mental health break with added cardio.

Aris G.

Ruck in the trunk is also my go-to. My kids always need to be dropped off and then picked up an hour later depending on the activity so that becomes my de facto ruck time.

Ed

I use the Future fitness app. Also, I signed up for my first gravel road race on my mountain bike after reading your book!

Honing the home workout

Evelyn Krieger

I have a chin up bar in my office door. After every sitting session, or just when exiting and entering, I'll hang to elongate my spine and strengthen grip. Still working on the pull-ups.

Also, as a former dancer, I have wall to ceiling mirror on one wall in my bedroom and a portable ballet barre that stays up. Dance shoes and resistance bands in a box under my bed. Bluetooth speakers for my favorite dance music.

Gail Pickens Barger

• I discovered YouTube videos during the pandemic. I like the indoor walking workouts from Get Fit With Rick, and indoor walking workouts from Keoni Tamayo….

• Basically in my living room, I do these indoor walking workouts to either help finish my 10,000 steps a day, or combine them with several line dancing YouTube workouts too.

Just get up f’ing earlier and get it done

Mr. Bad Example

The only thing that has ever kept me consistent is making it the first thing I do. Is getting up at 4:30 am fun? I don't know - I don't become fully conscious until 6:00, but assuming I have the same facial expression as the other people at the gym, I'd guess not.

Regardless, the positives are obvious: No traffic, no waiting for apparatus, feeling smugly superior. (The last one is only true if you don't say anything to anyone - talking about your workout habits mostly makes people's eyes glaze over but telling them you get up ridiculously early just confirms to them that you are a psychopath. Especially your spouse.)

Richard Kolkovich

….Get up before everyone else and get it done. This has been my success strategy in the past, as my work can throw a definite wrench in the planned lunch workouts more often than I'd like.

I cannot stress the pre-planning point enough, however, ESPECIALLY for those of us with kids. Spending any time on the day thinking about WHAT your workout will be is a recipe for skipping or sub-optimal results.

In that regard, this is the first time in my competitive racing career (such as it is) that I've outsourced some of that in the form of an AI-generated running plan (trying out athletica.ai). I still program my own strength, though, but that is pretty easy for me at this point (5/3/1!).

The hardest thing to balance now is trying to work out with my wife (strength) in the evenings and still get dinner on the table at a reasonable time! But that's only one problem now that I have the preloaded, pre-committed schedule to follow — much more realistic.

A big event goal + a deck of cards

Marshall Petersen

I schedule a minimum of two events per year. A cross country ski marathon, and a race up a local mountain (1.9 miles and 3200' ascent). It forces me to focus on sport-specific training. Since these events are annual and identical, I use them to grade my training program. There's an added component. I live in a small, outdoors-oriented mountain community. A large percentage of the community is competitive. Race results are posted immediately and are a topic of conversation. Your time and ranking are known to all. Enuf said...

I also use a trainer. My trainer is a highly competitive athlete so he focuses me on training geared to my goals, not just general fitness and of course I don't dare disappoint him. Having said that, he is adamant that my competition is with myself. Me vs. me.

I’ve created a rotating list to address my various (...and many) weaknesses across several muscle groups. This list includes Nordic curls, skater squats, push-ups, pull-ups, weighted sit-ups, wall sits, and planks. I draw one card from the deck each night to determine which exercise I’ll do. Then, I'll withdraw that card from the deck until I complete the stack. This is my non-negotiable exercise. It's surprising how often I'll find myself snuggled in to remember I "forgot" my nightly duty. Of course, with a sigh, I roll out to complete the nightly commitment.

Contingency plan workouts & community

Kyle Shepard

• A tool I like to use is a buy-in to the day and/or contingency workout that is often shorter/higher intensity on days where everything works against me in getting to the scheduled, pre-programmed workout.

• Buy-in to the day is some part of my morning routine that is fitness-based that takes less than five minutes tops. Contingency is usually a 5-10 min HIIT style workout in some area I want to improve upon.

• I have a go-to warmup routine that I do immediately prior to fitness, martial arts training, or competitions of any kind. I’ve easily done it over 1000x now. It’s my body’s wake-up call and reminder it’s time to go.

Jim Berridge

I am a member of The Fort in NYC and I have to book workout slots ahead of time and if you cancel last minute there is a financial penalty. That has been a game changer over the last 6 months and I have rarely missed classes. I do think it’s actually less about the financial penalty or disincentive to cancel, it’s more about the strength of the community and camaraderie with the coaches who are great.

I do think it’s incredibly tough to have the mental fortitude and get out there every day for solo fitness stuff like running or working out alone….

I think social contracts help, a bit like sobriety. I would love to find a light touch community for accountability where I can do my thing in the outdoors or down the gym and still be plugged into a virtual community where everyone encourages each other with their particular fitness endeavors!!

Inspiration for when you want to give up

Kelly Reid (via email)

You asked me to email you after I did my marathon that I told you about. Well, it turned out I wasn't registered for it … and I didn't figure it out until the week-of when it was sold out.

I panicked, I cried, I did my best to get a bib transfer, find the workaround. It didn't happen, so instead I ran it virtually on the New Paltz Empire Trail and I had a friend join me at mile 20. I thought I had prepared and I felt good but at mile 19 my body started protesting very loudly in the form of lactic acid buildup. I wanted to lie down and cry, I wanted to call a helicopter and be airlifted back to my car (I have a flair for drama...) I wanted it OVER. I was in a lot of pain, I walked, I finished. With the help of my friend - I did it! I wound up with 5.27 hrs and the fact I managed to push through literal pain and mental pain cave was what I decided to call the real accomplishment.

It didn't go as planned and maybe next year I'll tackle another one having learned a lot, more so that I can actually enjoy it, not so much for the time improvement, though of course that as well. In the mean time I'm back to my beloved tennis and I throw in 5k races about once a month and my goal is medaling in my age group.

Cooldown

As we close down 2024, thank you to everyone who has subscribed to this newsletter, become a paid member and read NOT TOO LATE during the past six months.

We’re more than 2,000 members strong here at N2L and growing.

Thanks for reading. And as always, find something you love. Dig in. Stick with it when things get hard.

Wendy