Making New Year’s resolutions can be a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s admirable and beneficial to set goals for yourself. But, in some ways, it can also set you up for failure.
Come January, many of us are exhausted from the holidays and daunted by the idea of several more months of Chicago winter. So, it’s a tough time to commit to new practices that might be out of your comfort zone.
This is especially true when it comes to fitness resolutions, which are some of the most common ones people make each year. It doesn’t mean that it can’t be done though. Here are just a few tips that might help.
1. Make Realistic Plans
Be as specific as possible about how you will achieve your goals and make sure those goals are doable. It also helps if you can find a place to exercise that’s located close to your home or workplace – studies have shown that you’re more likely to visit often if you choose a place with a convenient location because it eliminates one of the common excuses for skipping workouts.
Another proven tip is to choose a small studio like Create Your Space Studio where the classes are small. If you attend the same classes week to week, the instructor and fellow students will soon be greeting you by name and making you feel at home.
2. Try Out Various Activities
When it comes to physical fitness, there is absolutely no “one size fits all” plan. Even though your bestie loves Pilates, you might hate it. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t find another approach you do love. Keep trying until you find something you enjoy, which will make it a whole lot easier to stick to your resolution.
3. Set Goals for Behavior, Not Results
Long-term goals are necessary, but they’re also a little overwhelming when you’re just starting out. So instead of resolving to lose X pounds by a certain date many months from now, resolve to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week for the next month or to prepare healthy dinners for the next 2 weeks. At the end of that period, set a new goal that feels right.
The behavior is within your control, but the results can vary. While you may have vastly improved your habits, you might not lose your goal weight by the set date, which could leave you feeling like you failed when you’ve actually done really well.
4. Get New Workout Clothes
This might seem a little silly, but it does make a difference. Why not do everything you can to make workouts less of a chore? If having beautiful, new yoga pants makes it just a tiny bit easier to get yourself psyched up to go to yoga, then it’s worth it. Sometimes it’s the little things that can motivate you to keep going.
5. Celebrate Success
Another reason for setting short term goals is that they allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment more frequently. If you’ve done what you’ve said you’d do for the month or week, treat yourself in a way that doesn’t contradict your resolution. Think a pedicure instead of a brownie.
6. Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Go in knowing that you very likely will slip up, and that’s OK. The important thing is to not beat yourself up or tell yourself that you’ve failed, because that may very well lead to quitting entirely. Accept that it happens, forgive yourself and move on. If you’re having a hard time meeting your current goal, try dialing it back a bit to make it more doable.
To those who have made fitness resolutions for the New Year, we salute you! And most of all, we’re here to help.
Create Your Space Studio is a great choice for anyone who is new to fitness because we have small, personalized classes and we welcome guests of all levels, body types and ages. Check out our schedule to find the classes that work best for you and let us help you achieve your goals.