It’s easy to make fitness resolutions the first week of January only to drop them by the second week. There is a way to make lasting changes to your body and your life but it takes dedication and determination. Here are ten ways to make sure that you keep your end goal in mind and don’t give up on your New Year’s resolutions in the year 2022.
1) Make it a Routine
The best way to make something a habit is to begin doing it consistently no matter what. As you commit to that habit and building it, add in more days or extend each workout. Over time you’ll find yourself reaching your long desired goals almost without realizing what’s happening.
2) Set a Location
Without a clear setting for your workout in mind, it is easy to put your workouts. To start small, it’s helpful to start in a corner of your garage or home with a couple of dumbbells with some jogging or jump rope as cardio. Once you get into the routine it’s the perfect time to invest in a gym membership or build a home gym for more options and variety in your workout routine.
3) Get an Accountability Buddy
Gold medal Olympians have professional coaches to push them and keep them in check. It doesn’t take a professional however to keep you set on reaching your fitness goals. Find a friend who is willing to check in on you and hold you accountable to reach them and you can keep them on track for their personal or professional goals in their life.
4) Cut Out the Distractions
You want your workout time to be as clear of distractions as possible so you can focus on accomplishing your goals and gauge when to push yourself and when your body needs to take it just a little bit slower. Stay off of your phone and keep notifications turned off or kept to a minimum.
5) Celebrate Milestones
Give yourself rewards after each month of successful gym wins. Taking the time to celebrate milestones keeps the positive mindset that you need to continue to progress. Each time you reach a new minor goal it also instills in you the confidence that you need to reach the major goals you’re working towards.
6) Change it Up
After hitting your main goals and upping your workout times and days, add in some fun elements to keep yourself engaged in working out and to keep it fun. Change it up and do a beach workout or add in trying a new sport activity one day a week. Not only is this a great opportunity to cross-train, it is also keeps things fun and interesting and may even inspire some new exercises for your daily routine.
7) Keep Up Morale
During these times it is important not to get discouraged or disheartened but to set mental guides in place to hold onto when the going gets tough. One of the best ways to combat discouragement is thankfulness. Before or after your gym time think through the many things in your life that you have to be thankful for and allow these things to carry you through on the mornings when there seem to be a lot of reasons not to follow through.
8) Progress not Perfection
Rather than beating yourself up when you feel like you’re not measuring up, it’s far more motivating to appreciate what you did accomplish and strive to do better the next time. Don’t get hung up on what you are unable to do, but focus on what you can do and aim to do the best at that.
9) Keep a Record
Keeping a journal is a practical way to see your progress and how you’re gaining strength and endurance over time. It Is also a great way to see what is and isn’t working for your body type and lifestyle and adjust your training accordingly. Keep track of your workouts this way and at the end of 2022 this kind of journal can be an excellent motivator for the next year.
10) Find Others to Motivate
As you succeed in your fitness goals in 2022 take some time to encourage someone around you in their goals, fitness or otherwise. As you encourage others following your own success with your goals it will further solidify your drive and be a good reminder of what you have accomplished to be able to accomplish your next goal in the future.
Using these 10 strategies you can make sure that you make lasting New Year’s resolutions that don’t just change your January, but change your life. Remember after starting, the next best step is consistency. With these 10 things in mind you can stay consistent to continue making progress in your fitness journey and your life.
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