With New Year’s Day behind us, the time for creating meaningful habits from resolutions is now. According to a recent study by Inc.com, over 65 percent of Americans commit to exercising more as their resolution, making it the second most popular resolution behind eating healthier. If getting into exercise is a habit you want to start, then follow these tips to ensure the new year, new you is a success.
Start Small
Setting unattainable goals is the downfall of many new year resolutions and aiming too high when it comes to exercise can be damaging to your confidence and your body. Even though everyone wants to start exercising and instantly morph into a fit, healthy yoga enthusiast who runs and lifts weights, having too high of expectations damages the process. So start small by listening to your body and understanding your limits. Nobody gets on a treadmill for the first time and runs a four minute mile just like no one can speak a new language fluently after taking one class. Learning and bettering yourself is an individual process, so let it be just that: individualized.
Don’t Compare
One of the hardest parts of going to a gym, joining a fitness group or taking a workout class is comparing yourself to others. Everybody starts their fitness journey at different times and progresses at different rates, making it important to not get down when the people around you seem to have more experience. Everybody has to start somewhere so embrace that now is your time.
Forget the Fancy
Everything today seems to be about what is the newest and best, including fitness. But regardless of the countless ads trying to convince you that your goals won’t go anywhere without the best equipment, shoes, and gym memberships; getting and staying fit doesn’t have to drain your bank account. Start with exercises like running, crunches, lunges, and pushups and build upwards. Not only can you get in shape in the comfort of your our home, but you can also save some money on gym fees and equipment.
Stick to a Schedule
Scheduling time to exercise and sticking to it is perhaps the most important aspect of developing a fitness habit. Studies show that by laying out a self schedule, the odds of achieving your goal increases dramatically. Whether you want to exercise everyday or only twice a week, set times and days that work for your schedule and then, most importantly, stick to it. It’s tempting to skip your gym workout for a quiet night of Netflix, but remember that you will thank yourself in the long run.
