Any kind of fitness routine, from hardcore strength training to daily morning walks, can be difficult to stick to. Life gets busy, motivation wanes, and some mornings even the most avid gym goers want to do anything but work out. But what if there was a secret weapon to keep you accountable and make those workouts way more fun? If you often find yourself struggling to make a habit of exercise, then you might find a training partner helpful.

From the first minutes of your day when you are considering going back to bed, a training partner can help you stay disciplined. Most days, if we are left alone, we will probably go back to sleep. The knowledge that someone is coming to pick you up or is waiting at the gym to workout with you can be a huge motivator to get up. If this is a particular area of struggle for you or your gym buddy, you might consider sending a text every morning, confirming you both are up and on your way to the gym.

While in the gym, you can find yourself training a little lighter, cheating on your reps, and guessing on the technique for a particular exercise. A training partner can check your form, make sure you aren’t doing an exercise wrong, give you a spot on a heavy set, and keep you safe if you fail a rep. Training partners are also important for applying progressive overload. If your gym buddy is making that set of bench presses look a little too easy, tell him, and add some more weight. You can also push each other to that extra rep and pump each other up for that next PR. When you train consistently with the same partner, it creates a positive feedback loop that can help you stay consistent in the gym.

You are likely to have different strengths and weaknesses than your training partner. You might also know more about the particular way you train than they do. Your knowledge and experience will complement each other as you learn more about how to train. Look for someone with similar fitness goals, availability, and workout style. This could be someone at your gym now, a family friend, or someone in your neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to ask around.

Training alone is fine, and sometimes you might prefer it, but having a buddy at the gym can be a huge factor in staying consistent. Even if you only train together once a week or once a month, having someone to reach out to when you are feeling unmotivated can be a great resource, and being able to lift someone else up when they are down can be equally as positive for your long term health and fitness goals.