Setting your goals for the year is the easy bit, but sticking to them and working at them, and eventually achieving them is the hard part. As the year has just begun, most people are probably feeling very motivated and finding it easy to stick to their new plans. However, it is very early days and if you want to continue this way then there are going to be some challenges in the way so you’ll likely need some extra tips on how to achieve your fitness goals this year.
Always Remember Your ‘Why’
Your ‘why’ is the reason you’re doing this and the reason you want to achieve these goals. This can sometimes get lost and on the days when you’re not feeling it, you must always come back to your ‘why’. It could be for your wedding, to reverse type 2 diabetes, to be healthier for your kids, to fit into your old clothes again, or any number of other reasons. You need to ask yourself ‘why do I want to do this?’ and ‘what will happen if I don’t achieve this?’ and you need to constantly remind yourself of this when things get difficult.
Do What’s Right For Your Goals
If your goal is to run a marathon but you’re spending your time lifting weights, then it’s not going to get you very far. While this is an obvious example, some things aren’t so obvious and can get confusing. Know exactly what you want to achieve, and be realistic about what you’re doing and what you will achieve. For example, you might find that you lose weight but you’re still unhappy with your body as you haven’t built any muscle. Ensure that you’re doing the right exercises and eating the right things to achieve your goals and the best way to know this is to speak to an expert or educate yourself. Read books, ask questions, find out the difference when it comes to barbells vs dumbbells and which is better for your goals, and don’t waste your time on the wrong thing.
Do Something You Like
If your goal is to get fit and you think the best way to do this is by running, but you hate running, then you’re unlikely to stick to it. It’s important to find what works for you, find something that you enjoy and look forward to doing. You can also mix it up massively and if your goal is just to get fitter and do more, it could be hiking on the weekend, playing tennis in the week, going for a swim one morning, and yoga another. This could also help you to find what it is you like and what you’re good at.
Pace Yourself
Start slowly, if you go in all guns blazing in the beginning then you’ll likely burn out and give up quickly as you’ll feel that it’s not sustainable. While the enthusiasm, in the beginning, is great, it’s important to be thoughtful about how you plan to reach your goals. Get into good habits first and just do little bits. Whether it’s a short walk each day, to begin with, or one run around the park each week and then build it up to more, just start and get moving. Create a realistic plan and one that you know you can stick to.
