How to Put Together the Best Workout Routine for You

Creating a workout routine that actually works for you isn’t about copying a pro athlete’s split or jumping on the latest fitness trend. It’s about building a program that aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and training experience—so it’s sustainable, effective, and designed for long-term progress.

Whether you’re new to fitness or fine-tuning your performance, the best workout routine is one that fits you. Here’s how to build it from the ground up.

1. Define Your Primary Goal

Your training should reflect your objective. Be specific.

• Want to build muscle? Focus on hypertrophy training with progressive overload.
• Looking to burn fat? Combine resistance training with metabolic conditioning or cardio.
• Aiming to get stronger? Prioritize compound lifts with lower reps and higher intensity.
• Training for athletic performance? Emphasize speed, power, and movement patterns.

Pro Tip: Choose one primary focus at a time. You can always adjust as you evolve.

2. Assess Your Schedule & Commitments

Consistency is the most important variable in any routine. Be realistic about:

• How many days you can train each week
• How much time you have per session
• What time of day you’ll be most consistent

If you can commit to 3 days, a total-body split might be ideal. Have 5–6 days? A push-pull-legs or upper/lower split may give you more volume and variety.

Bottom Line: Design your program around your life—not the other way around.

3. Choose a Training Split That Matches Your Goals

Here are a few common and effective splits:

• 3 Days/Week – Full-body workouts (e.g., M/W/F)
• 4 Days/Week – Upper/Lower Split
• 5 Days/Week – Push / Pull / Legs / Upper / Lower
• 6 Days/Week – Classic Body Part Split (Chest, Back, Legs, etc.)

Each has benefits, but it depends on your recovery, time, and training history.

4. Build the Foundation: Compound Movements

Base your workouts around compound lifts—movements that recruit multiple muscle groups.

Key examples:

• Squats
• Deadlifts
• Bench Press
• Overhead Press
• Rows
• Pull-Ups

Compound lifts build the most strength, burn the most calories, and create the biggest stimulus for growth and adaptation.

5. Fill In With Accessories & Mobility Work

After your primary lifts, use accessory exercises to isolate weak points, add volume, and prevent imbalances.

Examples:

• Dumbbell curls or triceps extensions
• Lateral raises or hamstring curls
• Core stability work
• Mobility or corrective exercises

This is where you fine-tune, reinforce, and bulletproof your body.

6. Track Progress and Make Adjustments

The best routine is one that evolves.

Track:

• Weights lifted
• Reps completed
• Rest periods
• Energy levels
• Recovery and soreness

Adjust based on what’s working and what’s stalling. Add weight. Change tempo. Modify rest. Switch up rep ranges. But always keep progressing.

7. Don’t Skip Recovery & Nutrition

Training is only half the equation. Prioritize:

• 7–9 hours of sleep per night
• High-protein, whole food nutrition
• Hydration and electrolyte balance
• Active recovery days or mobility work

Your body grows stronger in recovery—not during the workout.

8. Make It Yours

Ultimately, your routine should reflect:

• Your goals
• Your schedule
• Your energy
• Your preferences

If you hate running, don’t run. If you love lifting heavy, lean into that. The best plan is the one you’ll actually stick to—and enjoy.

The Takeaway

The perfect workout routine doesn’t exist. But the best routine for you does—and it’s built on structure, purpose, and consistency.

Set clear goals. Build around your lifestyle. Train with intent. Recover like a pro. And above all, stay consistent.

The body you want is built one rep, one session, one decision at a time.