We’re at the end of another January which means it’s the time to check in with the people who put some New Year resolutions in action. How are you guys? Still hanging in there? More power to you.
More often than not, these resolutions have a lot to do with physical fitness. Tons of people make it a point to set goals at the start of the new year. Unfortunately, those same people often fall off and fail to accomplish their resolutions.
Like all things worth putting in effort for, these fitness resolutions have methods to their madness and to achieve them. Here are some ways you can do to stay on track and accomplish your resolutions for the rest of 2020.
Break Your Goals Down
I hate to use a cliché but remember, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Making new year’s resolutions is all fine and dandy, but if you really want to achieve all the goals that you’d be setting for yourself, you need to create a plan. Break down all the goals you have in mind into smaller sub-goals that you can achieve monthly, weekly, and/or daily.
By breaking your goals down, i imagine your resolution as small, actionable steps, the achievement of the goal becomes a lot more feasible in your head.
Let me give you an example. Say you want to lose 12 lbs. this year. 12 lbs. could seem like a pretty hefty amount of weight when you first look at it. However, if you break that down to losing at least 3 lbs. every three months, it becomes a lot more realistic. This way you can also actively monitor your progress, and you’ll know whether or not you’re on target to meet it.
Stop Focusing on the End
When we commit to goals, it’s really easy to lose sight of the beauty of the process. We often feel like goals are things we should just achieve just so we can get through with it. When you do that, the goals turn into tasks that you HAVE to do instead of challenges that you WANT to do.
That slight difference in mentality can greatly influence how you approach the work you need to put in to achieve your goal, and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you which of these can negatively affect your approach.
While there is an overarching goal that we always need to keep in mind; it’s also important to make sure that you enjoy the experience so that you can stay committed.
The goal is at the end of line and the way to get there is where our focus needs to be. Like every journey, you can’t constantly be looking at the map to see where you’re headed because you’ll constantly be stuck if you do.
Push Yourself
Don’t be afraid to do more. If you feel like a workout you’re doing is too easy, take it up a notch and challenge yourself. This is one way you can keep things fun and challenging while climbing the ladder and reaching your goal.
Are those bicep curls getting too easy? Lift heavier weights. Is your 3km run time getting faster? Why not try to make it 5km tomorrow morning?
Being able to push yourself and take things to the next level is a sign that you’re progressing and moving closer to your goal/s.
Know When to Take a Break
It’s easy to believe that working yourself into exhaustion is the key to get the best results from your workouts but that’s really never the case. Pacing yourself throughout the process of working towards your goals is just as important as pushing yourself.
Working towards a goal can get physically exhausting AND mentally draining at times, especially when it’s done over an extended period of time. You need to know when to take the foot off the gas once in a while to avoid burning out.
Reward Yourself
Rewarding yourself every now and then is also important if you want to make sure you stick to your resolutions.
Rewarding yourself during days when you’re off the gym or having scheduled cheat days if you’re on a diet are great ways to keep you sane through the hellish grind and help you stay on track of your goals.
It also acts as a reminder that you’re slowly but surely getting closer to achieving your goals.
I understand that there can be something, uh, romantic (?) about waiting until the end to get your reward but in all honesty, that’s just not sustainable.
Don’t Listen to the Naysayers
And last, but not the least, don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t achieve the fitness goals that you’ve set for yourself. While there may always be people who will doubt that you can achieve the goals that you set out for yourself this year, it’s important to remember that what they say won’t matter as long as you believe in your abilities.
If all these tips have convinced you to get your 2020 fitness resolutions but you are lacking the gear and/or equip you need to get the ball rolling, Toby’s Sports is having a New Year Sale until January 31st to help all of you guys start the year right.
Get amazing deals on all the best brands and cross out one of your New Year’s resolutions today!
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