6 Tips to Make Your New Year’s Fitness Resolution Stick

Ready to kick off the new year with improved health and wellness? Getting sufficient exercise is a key component. According to a YouGov poll, 30% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, and half of those involve exercise. While intentions are good, studies show that around 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail. If you’re committed to making 2021 the year you get in great shape, there are six key tips to make your New Year’s fitness resolutions stick.

1. Set Reasonable, Realistic Goals

If you don’t know where you’re going, you can’t figure out how to get there. Decide what you’re trying to accomplish. Perhaps you just want to maintain overall fitness. Others may want to build muscle or train for an endurance race. Your goal will help you outline the course of action, and it should be one that’s realistically able to be reached. 

2. Stock Your Toolbelt

You can significantly improve your chances of sticking to your fitness goals when you’re not limited to the gym. However, let’s face it. Most of us don’t have the equipment you’d find in the gym readily available at home. While there are plenty of awesome exercises you can perform with bodyweight, some goals may require a financial investment. It can prove to be money well spent when it helps you achieve your goals. Some examples of equipment related to goals include:

• A treadmill for someone who wants to improve cardiorespiratory fitness but knows they will skip workouts when the weather is cold.
• Weights for someone trying to tone/build muscles. 
• Stability ball for someone trying to improve balance. 

3. Dedicate Your Space

You should have a dedicated space in which to workout outside of the gym. Ideally, this should be a place with a fitness-focus. Working out in your bedroom, for example, can make it too tempting to take breaks lying in bed. Your workout space should be an area where you can mentally get into workout mode with minimal distractions. 

4. Make Time

Do you have trouble finding time to workout? That’s because you’re not making time to workout. Make fitness a priority. The old saying is true….

“If you can’t find time to exercise, you’ll have to make time to be sick.” 

There are several creative ways to carve out time on even the busiest schedules: 

1. Incorporate home fitness equipment into the equitation. While going to the gym might remain a key component of your fitness lifestyle, make sure there’s a way to get a solid 45 minutes of exercise in at the home, just in case.
2. Scheduled both an ideal workout time and an alternative time in case something comes up.
3. Keep workout clothes handy in case unexpected exercise opportunities present themselves.
4. Set the alarm clock an hour earlier. Getting in your sweat session with the sunrise is a great way to boost your metabolism for the rest of the day. 

5. Stick with a Program

Fresh workout moves can be found all over the internet or in books and magazines if you’re old-fashioned like me! If you really struggle with creating a workout plan, you could consider an online personal trainer. Companies like Kickoff offer the ability to interact with a qualified trainer strictly online complete with daily support and live video options. If you’re comfortable planning your own program, make sure you include:

• Balance and flexibility
• Plyometric
• Speed, agility and quickness
• Resistance
• Core

6. Recruit an Accountability Buddy

 A study conducted by the University of Aberdeen found that people are more likely to exercise when they have a supportive exercise buddy. It’s all too easy to skip a workout. This is often followed by another skipped workout and another. When you know you have someone to hold you accountable, it can do wonders for your sense of motivation. With many gyms closed or restricted due to COVID-19, consider these tips to succeed with virtual accountability:

• Workout together via video.
• Share stats using fitness trackers.
• Set a time you can both workout simultaneously, and call each other before and after the workout.
• Send each other workout pics after exercise. 
• Get together regularly to check progress and plan programming.

Only YOU Can Make 2021 Your Year

Although 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail, 20% prove successful. A little preparation makes all the difference. It takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become routine, and consistency is key. By taking time to consider these six tips, you can significantly improve your chances of taking control of your health and wellness in 2021.