Another year is well underway, and if you are one of the millions of people who have decided that a healthier lifestyle is important, your commitment may be flagging. The difficulty is sticking to your guns and committing to the long run (research would suggest that up to 60% of people give up on their resolutions within the first quarter of the new year). If you are wavering, here are some ways to makes sure that by the end of 2020 you are enjoying a better quality of life – as well as feeling and looking great.
1. Why?
Those who stick with their commitment to a healthier lifestyle – and make the most of their gym contracts are those who are clear why they have committed to a new lifestyle. Why would you get out of bed early to hit the gym? Why would you get to the gym after a long day at work? Do you simply want to look better, or are there health issues that you would like to address? If you can be clear in your mind why you made the decision to exercise on a regular basis, chances are that you will be able to pick yourself up and go on when you are wavering.
2. Set Yourself Realistic Goals
Setting a resolution can be a feel-good exercise, but that resolution too often is open-ended. It leaves enough wriggle room so that you can be tempted to skip that gym day or cheat on your diet. Make your goals as specific as possible. Set targets – and stick to them. But be realistic – you are probably not going to look like the models which grace the pages of glossy magazines in a month. Stick to a schedule and be disciplined and the rewards will come. On a related note – being realistic is key. Start off slowly and gradually work yourself towards your goals. Going all out from the outset means that you may risk disappointment – and that can mean giving up at the first sign of a challenge.
3. Set Those Goals Down in Writing
Research shows that individuals are much more likely to achieve their goals if they write them down. Get a magnet and stick those goals to the fridge. Post them at your desk in the office. Make them visible and you may be surprised at how motivated you become. Tick off those milestones when they are achieved – measure your progress. Tell your friends and family – they will be your support network when challenges seem too great to overcome.
4. Make it Fun
Gym – and achieving your lifestyle goals should not be a grind. If it isn’t fun, chances are you are going to become discouraged. Hate lifting? Try Zumba or Yoga instead. Put together some great tunes to listen to while you’re are at the gym, get your blood pumping. Have a backup plan for those tough times – if a gym session is too much, hit a cycling machine or the pool, or simply go for a walk in the park with friends. But keep exercising. Diet becoming stale and boring – get online and find some more healthy recipes that fit in with your personal diet plan. Exploring new cuisines and ingredients (and perhaps sharing with a friend) can be fun.
4. Make it All About You
Making a resolution to enjoy a better lifestyle and meeting fitness goals should not be about living up to some impossible ideals. Those models on the internet and in the glossy magazines may not be all they seem. Manipulating images is the name of the game in advertising – especially when it comes to setting impossible ideals. Don’t do it for the social media likes – do it because it will make a lasting change to your quality of life. Stick to your plan, enjoy yourself – and be human. You are not a machine; you will find yourself falling short at some point. Keep at it – and the change will be lasting.
