You might be surprised that it’s almost time to celebrate the New Year again (seriously, where did the time go?). You probably won’t be surprised to hear that making fitness an essential part of your year to come is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
If you want to incorporate fitness into your New Year’s resolutions, but don’t know where to get started, you’ve come to the right place. We have all the information you need to make it happen.
Slow and Steady Wins the (Figurative) Race
If we told you that the best way to get fit in the New Yearis to commit to going to the gym every single day, running marathons, and only eating protein-rich superfoods, we wouldn’t be setting you up for success. Setting realistic, attainable resolutions is the best way to ensure you stick to them.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t strive for progress or push yourself, but your fitness resolutions need to be lifestyle changes you can stick to all year long.
You Need a Winning Team
Resolutions are about achieving personal goals, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t find ways to make fitness a team effort. If you’ve ever been to a gym in January, you know you’re going to be in good company when it comes to focusing on fitness at the start of the New Year.
Instead of seeing your fellow resolutioners as competition for that coveted treadmill in the prime gym location, try finding ways to leverage their support. Take a look at a few ways to build a solid fitness support system:
- Sign up for group classes
- Create an accountability group
- Find a friend to run with
- Engage in a friendly competition
- Get your whole family involved
Bribe Yourself
We aren’t above bribery, and you shouldn’t be, either. Bribing yourself can be an effective (and fun!) way to motivate yourself to work out. If you want to hit the weight room a few more times each week, reward yourself in advance by signing up for that fancy gym you’ve been eyeing. If you want to tackle a half-marathon, make a few purchases from the ultimate gift guide for runners to encourage yourself to hit the pavement.
Don’t Let Boredom Sneak In
You won’t be very motivated if you’re struggling through the same boring workout day after day. Even if you’ve found a routine that works for you, we still encourage you to incorporate variety into your workout regime. Doing so will prevent mental burnout as well as protect your body from injuries caused by overuse of certain muscles.
Take a look at these creative workout ideas:
- Boxing
- Trampoline workouts
- Aerial yoga
- Water aerobics
- At-home workout challenges
- Ballet barre
- Zumba
- CrossFit
This list is just the beginning.
There are countless ways to make working out more interesting. The best part is, if you try one of the methods above and find out it’s not for you, you’ll still have gotten in a great workout (while learning more about yourself in the process).
You’re Going to Thank Yourself a Year from Now
Before you run out to buy brand new sneakers or jot down five major fitness goals, take a second to close your eyes. Imagine how wonderful you’re going to feel at the end of next year knowing you stuck to your fitness resolutions. In fact, the sooner you get started, the sooner you can start achieving your goals.
Who says you have to wait for the ball to drop? You might want to start your resolutions a little early this year. Cheers to that!
