Stay on Track: 5 Simple Tips for New Year's Fitness Success
At the beginning of a New Year, many of us set out with renewed motivation to reach our fitness goals. Yet, statistics show that by the end of January, most people would have already quit reaching their New Year's goals. We all set our goals with grand intentions and a plan to commit to crushing our goals, but staying the course is a problem for many of us.
Somewhere in between us setting our goals and sticking to them, before the first month of the New Year is even up, the demands of life and other distractions get us off course. We find ourselves losing our motivation, and excuses begin to seep in, and before we know it, we have lost the excitement that we had when we made those New Year Fitness Resolutions.
If you're reading this and feel the motivation to hit those New Year goals is already beginning to wear off, don't throw in the towel just yet because we've got your back. Keep reading to discover five simple tips that will help you stay on the course this New Year and help you once and for all to crush those fitness goals.
Tip #1: Set Specific, Bite Sized Goals
Too often, we set out with lofty, vague goals like - I want to lose weight this year, or I want to get Fit this year, or I want to work out more. But, if you're looking to be successful this year, you will need to make your goals specific. Go back over those goals you made at the start of the year and make them more specific. For example, take a look at how we have rewritten these three vague goals to make them specific:
· I want to lose weight this year (vague) - I will lose 20 pounds this year (clear and specific)
· I want to get fit this year (vague) - I will start running 20 minutes a day this year (clear and specific)
· I want to work out more this year (vague) - I will work out at least 30 minutes 3 times a week this year (clear and specific)
Do you see how much more powerful these specific goals are and how these vague goals come to life when they are clear and specific?
But we encourage you not to stop there. Try breaking these goals into smaller milestones to make them more attainable and realistic. These smaller wins will make you feel accomplished as you hit them and help to keep you motivated. So, for example, instead of - I will lose 20 pounds this year, you can create a smaller bite-sized goal to lose 5 pounds each quarter. And for that goal where you want to start running 30 minutes daily, you could aim to run 15 minutes in the morning before work and 15 minutes in the evening after work. Do you see how breaking these larger goals into smaller bite-sized goals can fuel you to crush your goals because they now feel more specific and in reach?
Tip #2: Write your goals down
This one might seem like an easy one. However, you may be surprised to learn that only about 13% of people have written goals, yet studies show that those who write their goals down have a far greater chance of sticking to them and reaching them over those who do not. So, if you have not written down your New Year's goals, take a few minutes to jot them down and keep them prominently displayed so you won't forget them.
Tip #3 Create a Workout Schedule and Stick to It
One of the biggest trip-ups for keeping our New Year goals is falling off our plan or not even having a plan to begin with. Since consistency is key to any successful fitness routine, creating a workout plan is crucial to sticking to it. Like with anything else in life, those things that get scheduled get done. So, don't skip this critical piece if you want to be one of the few who will stick to their goals this year. Take out your planner and figure out when and where you plan to get those 20 minutes of workout in, and make sure you schedule it into your day. Make sure you treat that time like any other important meeting in your schedule. Another essential thing to remember is to make sure that the time you choose to work out works best with your energy levels. If you are not a morning person, then don't set yourself up for failure by scheduling your workout in the early morning.
Tip #4 Make the goals convenient
One of the keys to sticking to any fitness goal is convenience. And this is where NOSSK comes in. If you have to drive multiple miles to get to the closest local gym or have to purchase bulky, overpriced fitness equipment to achieve your fitness goals this year, there is a good chance that you will not stick to those goals. A NOSSK Bodyweight Trainer turns any space into a personal gym. Whether at home, on the road, or outdoors, since they are designed with simplicity and versatility and can be anchored from virtually anything, NOSSK helps you crush full-body workouts anytime, anywhere, quickly and effectively.
Tip # 5 Keep Your Workouts Fun and Varied
Doing the same old workout routine day in and day out can easily lead to boredom and burnout, not to mention hitting a plateau. So, make sure that you're switching things up often and keeping it fresh. The more enjoyable your workout routine is, the more likely you will stick to it. A simple and easy way to keep your workout fresh, for example, is switching up the location. Mix up your strength training with other modes of exercise. Switch off days of weights and then try resistance bands or your NOSSK Trainer. A NOSSK Trainer is super versatile, which means that you can switch between endless variations of upper-body, lower-body, and full-body exercises - the possibilities are truly endless.
Final Thoughts
As we wrap up, we want to encourage you not to be too hard on yourself if you are one of those who have already fallen off track this New Year. Staying fit in the long run is more about consistent progress than it is about hitting the mark of perfection.
So, give yourself a break and commit to using some or all of these five simple tips and resolve to get back on and stay on the course.
And remember that with fitness equipment like the NOSSK Bodyweight Fitness Trainer in your corner, sticking to your fitness goals is easier than ever. So go ahead, get busy crushing your fitness goals, and make this your healthiest, Fittest BEST year yet. You deserve to be Fit. After all, Fitness is your Birthright, not a luxury!
Happy Training!