It’s that time of the year again! New year resolutions have been made or are being finalized. But most times, we all know how that goes, don’t we?
Three months into the year, the zeal and motivation dwindles and we start slacking off. Then, poof! New year resolutions are blowing in the wind, only to be rekindled the next year. And the next. And the next. It’s a vicious cycle.
It’s easy to say we’ll stay off soda and junk food and do 100 jumping jacks, eat just green salads, and have kale smoothies all year round. But by Easter, we’re stuffing our bellies with all sorts unhealthy and calorie-inducing meals. We’re pushing that run and our workout routine to tomorrow.
Surely, this year doesn’t have to end in the same way. You can break that vicious cycle and emerge a fit person by the end of the year. In this article, we have highlighted five tips that would help you achieve this and stay as fit as a fiddle.
- CREATE A WELL LAID OUT PLAN
Many people just set lofty goals for themselves without a concrete plan to achieve them. That’s why they falter; failing to plan properly just means you plan to fail.
Don’t tow that path again this year. Set goals and define the methods you’ll use to achieve them.
Be a little more practical: write your plan, how you intend to achieve it, what prevented you from doing so the last time, and the changes you want to see.
It might seem like a lot at first, but you can break it down and set specific daily or weekly goals. Breaking it into bits makes it easier to follow through.
- GET A WORKOUT BUDDY/BUDDIES
Getting workout buddies can help you motivate and push each other into achieving your goals.
Find people who share similar fitness goals as you and partner with them. You’ll be some sort of support group to motivate each other when keeping up gets tough. You can also compare and contrast your growth from time to time.
Besides, workouts are easier to pull through when they are fun. The interactions between you all would also make the whole thing fun and lively.
However, if you can’t seem to find anyone you know that has the same fitness plan, you can just type “community health centers near me” on Google, visit one, and find people you can work with.
- BE REALISTIC
Another reason why you might have flopped on your workout plan is that you set unrealistic goals for yourself. And then when you seem nowhere close to achieving them, you begin to lose the motivation to follow through with them.
So, set goals you know are within your capacity to achieve. When you’re setting a goal, write out your plans in detail and make sure they’re SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
When you compare your progress to your goal and you see how close you are to achieving them, this will motivate you to do more and even ace those goals even before time.
- REMOVE BARRIERS
Identify excuses or barriers that might prevent you from achieving your workout goals this year, then go ahead to reduce and crush them as soon as possible.
If the problem is time, then set a schedule for yourself to work out. If it’s money to register at a gym, find a cheaper alternative. If it’s a lack of motivation that stomps you, find a workout buddy that can motivate you.
If it’s also a lack of equipment that bothers you, then you can make do with a workout that does not require heavy equipment and can be easily done in the comforts of your home.
Just ensure you decisively remove any excuses you might conjure up to help absolve you of any guilt of not working out. Most importantly, be wary of possible barriers to your workout.
- DETERMINE IF YOU ARE PHYSICALLY READY
Before you embark on any workout program, it would serve you well to consult your doctor on if your body can take on intense physical activity constantly.
Sometimes, there might be some underlying issues that might prevent you from fully putting your workout program to good use. Hence, paying a visit to your doctor or the primary care clinic near you just might save you from any fatal injury you might unknowingly incur during the workout.
In conclusion, while sticking to your workout plans can be very daunting, it is not an unachievable task. With the five tips listed in this article, we hope the journey becomes easier for you. Reach out to us here to get you started on a workout program tailored to your very needs.
