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The new year comes with new aspirations, a new beginning, filled with promise. On January 1st the gyms will be filled with many people eager to get a jump start on their new year’s resolutions. Often, those same gyms gradually empty out over the coming days and weeks. It’s not easy to stay on top of your new years resolutions, and that new year routine slowly drops away. Here’s how to keep things simple and get a head start on your goals to make sure you don’t burn out too fast.
Create SMART Goals
Make sure you meet those new year expectations by using the acronym SMART when creating your goals. You want your goals to be:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-Bound
When defining your goals try to answer the 5 W’s – What do I want to accomplish? Why is this goal important (knowing the WHY deepens your resolve to keep pursuing it)? Who is involved? Where is it located? Which resources or limits are involved? It’s important to have measurable goals so that you can track your progress, and stay focused and motivated.
Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable, you want to stretch yourself while still setting yourself up for success.
Having a time frame for your goals is vital. If you leave the dates and pounds a mystery, you’re more likely to fail because you have no end goal to aspire to. Set specific goals, such as shaving a minute off your mile time or losing 5 pounds in a month, to make your resolutions tangible and attainable.
Write It Down
Before the new year even kicks off, take the time to create those SMART goals, and then write them down. You can go all out and create a new year’s resolution board, get a journal started, or simply list your goals on a scrap of paper and hang it on the fridge. Knowing the answer to questions like: “How many times per week will you exercise?” or, “what happens if you veer off plan for a couple of days?” will help you stay focused and avoid setbacks. If you have new year’s food resolutions try keeping a list of healthy eating affirmations on the fridge to remind you to make healthier choices throughout the day.
Do Your Research
Research different healthy recipes that are easy and quick, to have ready for those busy days when it’s harder to stay on track. This is a good time to decide which diet plan or exercise regime that you want to use, which means you’ll want to read up on the guidelines of each approach. If you’re looking for guidance on foundations for healthy living check out our series on creating an Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Action Plan. Pinterest is a great source for delicious but healthy recipes. Or you can try these 10 healthy food blogs that make eating well extremely easy. It’s also a good idea to research and test out different apps for tracking your progress.
Enlist Help
Whether you find a workout buddy or hire a personal trainer, having someone who knows your goal and wants to help get you there can make a huge difference. Not only does it help hold you more accountable to your agreed-upon goals, workouts and eating habits, it’s also way more fun than going solo. Our trainers can be your fitness advisors, their expertise can help you focus your workouts to achieve your goals. They can also help provide guidance and direction for your nutrition goals. And joining one of CORE’s small groups can give you an automatic workout buddy!
Prepare for Setbacks
You won’t always reach your goals on time. Some days will be easier than others, some days you won’t stay on track at all. Prepare for that and realize that it is not failure. No one is perfect. It’s okay to have setbacks. It’s more impressive to get back on your feet and keep going.
So, what are you waiting for? There’s no time like the present. Contact us today to set up your Complimentary Success Session with one of our trainers and prepare for a great start to the new year!