Getting to the tools you need for a great workout shouldn’t be stressful!

The fact that the word workout includes “work” makes it an unappealing concept for many people right off the bat.

That being the case, I decided to kick off the new week with this motivational tip: it’s easier to incorporate exercise into your daily routine when you make the workout work for you. One of the easiest ways to make that happen is to make it convenient!

I’ve been meaning to write about this fitness tip since it came up during a walk along the beach in Montauk with my dear friend Michele. Now with many back-to-school deals still being offered in many gyms, it looks like I haven’t missed my window of opportunity.

Obviously in this economy, we’re all looking for the best deals we can find on pretty much everything. However, here’s the bottom line: when it comes to a health club membership, I don’t care if it’s a free a month; one dollar a day for a year; or half-price for everyone else in your family; if it’s not convenient, chances are you’re not going to get there. When taking those five extra subway stops or driving 20 extra minutes becomes a chore on the first day of your I’m-going-to-workout-three-days-this-week plan, it can become all too easy to throw those other two days right out the window.

We’re all creatures of comfort to some degree. So whether  you’re planning to get your workout in first thing in the morning or at the end of your work day, it’s hard to find many people who want the extra burden of worrying about getting stuck in traffic or facing some other delay in getting to what’s supposed to be a physical and mental pick-me-up. If you’re going to stress over how much time it takes you to get your workout done thanks to extra travel, you’re bringing negative energy to an activity that’s designed to make you feel better. Exercise isn’t supposed to add to your stress levels. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to help keep them in check.

So on this Motivation Monday, remember this: exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. If you can’t find a gym near your home or office, think about adding some exercise DVDs to your movie collection to get moving in your den. If you hate the idea of being inside to exercise, look at places where you can walk or run near your home or office. Find a community center en route to work or near your kid’s school and see if they have fun group exercise classes at a time that works in your schedule. Keeping things simple is one of the best ways to stay on track with your plans to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!