It’s that time of the year again. Perhaps, you would gladly forget about 2020 and are ready to move on. You’re making new plans and slowly working to pick up where the difficult year left off. The holidays are over and it is time to get back to business. As always, many of us have a grandiose fitness goal to get fit and be healthy in 2021. For most, the motivation to stay the course fizzles after the first week. But what if you had a plan that allows you to finally stick with your exercise and fitness goals this year?
In this post, we will discuss solid pointers that will help you reach your health and fitness goal this year.
Here we go.
Create a solid plan
Creating a solid plan is more likely to get you to your goals than winging it. A practical way to create a plan you can follow is to write it down.
The abbreviation S.M.A.R.T is used in productivity circles to indicate goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Based on your current daily schedule, what are some S.M.A.R.T goals you can set for yourself this year?
List out exactly what you want to achieve in a journal or planner. And then get to work. Set a timer to walk for 30 minutes each day, for instance, if that is on your plan. Eliminate your excuses and get to it. Be mindful of your strengths and limitations. Most importantly, remember you can do this.
Know why you’re doing this
Be aware of why you are setting these goals. Are you simply following the majority? Or do you really want to tread this path for a fit and healthy life?
What will getting healthier help you do? Will it help you play with your children more? Will it boost your sense of wellbeing to see you lost 20lbs? Think about what you are going to accomplish.
Remind yourself of the benefits daily
With a plethora of resources available at your fingertips, it’s an easy task to look up a few scientifically proven and research-backed benefits of fitness and exercise. List out ten of those that really resonate with your mindset and lifestyle, print them out, and frame them on a wall.
Make it a point to go through them at least once a day. Verbal repetition of something (or anything for that matter) that is valuable to you will give that much-needed drive to get to the target.
Track your progress
Keep a track of your daily tasks and routine. Cell phone apps and wearable technology allow you to do this easily. Visualizing those small steps and consistent trends gives you the proof of your improvement and provides the momentum to continue.
Encourage others/Join communities
Research has proven that we tend to do what our peers are doing even when we think we’re taking independent action.
Get motivation and motivate others by joining communities online and in your local community. Your exercise routine will motivate someone and so will others’. So if you find yourself getting low on motivation, definitely try joining communities that will be helpful to you.
Set out your exercise clothes in advance
Whatever time of the day you choose to exercise, make it a habit to lay out everything that is required beforehand.
Have your gym bags packed and ready with the essentials if your plan is to hit the gym.
Keep the shoes and extra equipment, a Spotify playlist, and the tracker if you’re exercising outside. Choose whatever articles you need for your routine and set them out where you can see them. Visual stimulation works wonders while and often prompts you on those days when you don’t feel motivated.
Schedule a variety of tasks
Rather than following the usual gym exercises, integrate other fun activities that you enjoy into your schedule. This can include dance, swimming, cycling, rock-climbing, anything that keeps you moving and motivated.
You could add them at strategic intervals for a change of pace and novelty so that you don’t get bored of repetition and monotony.
These are just a handful of pointers to get you on a consistent path to achieving your exercise and fitness goal this year. Whatever motivates you to follow a schedule, do it. Keep it real and pay heed to your body and mind. When you do falter, don’t be so hard on yourself. Get back up and keep it moving.
