Working out can be daunting. It can be easy to be intimidated by all the buff strangers you see at the gym. You’ve never gotten that sweaty or looked that muscly in your life. Never mind actually motivating yourself to get out of the house and get moving.

“[It can be hard], especially in the winter, because I feel lazy and a lot of times it’s hard to find time to go to the gym with school and extracurriculars and stuff,” senior Jenna Clausen-Voorhes said.

With these tips, easing into working and sticking with it will be easier.

1. Bring a Friend

Bringing support along with you will make it less awkward and make it look more like you know what you’re doing.

“It’s really motivating if you work out with a friend,” Clausen-Voorhes said.

Having a workout buddy can push you to workout harder or longer. You’ll be more accountable if someone else is depending on you to go with them.

2. Work Out in the Winter

When it’s cold out, all you want to do is stay wrapped up in a blanket on the couch watching Netflix, so find ways to push yourself to work out in the winter.

Joining a gym can force you to work out. If I’m going to pay for something, I’m going to make sure that I get my money’s worth. If you don’t want to splurge on a gym membership, you can still do stretches and lift weights at home. You can also do at-home exercise programs.

3. Eat and Drink Right

If you’re eating healthy, working out will be easier because your body will feel better.

“Hydrate yourself all day beforehand or even the night before. You may sweat a lot, but you won’t feel nearly as weak or tired,” senior Mareea Gaines said. “Also, don’t eat greasy food right before. You’ll regret it during.”

Don’t gorge yourself on McDonalds and candy the night before. You’ll better working out and chances are eating healthy will help your overall goal.

4. Set Realistic Goals

Don’t try to lose 50 pounds in two weeks or put on 10 pounds of muscle. Set a realistic goal, or even better, try to focus on just feeling healthier.

“Set small, reachable goals. Each little step counts and achieving little by little is easier and more worthwhile than not reaching a huge standard by a certain point and losing your motivation and determination,” Gaines said.

5. Have a Plan

Once you set a specific goal, make a plan.

“Know what you want to do. It could be to get stronger, pit on mass, lose weight or whatever, just know what you want to do. Then you can figure out what to do from professionals or by looking at reputable sites to figure out a plan or routine,” senior Shaun Brumgard said.

The internet can be a valuable source. Find out what exercises or machines you need to use by researching workout and health sites. You can also set a schedule detailing what days you’ll workout and which exercises you’ll do.