Set Realistic Goals To Maintain Your New Year’s Resolutions

January 1st, the most hopeful day of the year, full of new years resolutions and goal setting. The first months of the gym make for the busiest days at the gym, and the healthiest eating we do all year…with so much effort, why do we crash back down to our old habits more often than not?

New year’s resolutions are tricky, the butt of all jokes, the idea that no one will ever change from them, or that the change is usually temporary. Why does this seem to be the case?

When we look at the types of goals we set, they may seem easier to achieve cold turkey, or by diving right into the weeds, but for more people, this pattern is what causes us to crash out of our resolutions and set us running back to our pizza and ‘rest days’. 

Strategies for Success

Whatever your goal may be, the first step is to create a step-by-step plan to ease yourself into a new routine, or even lifestyle (and if you want a jump start you can try one of our 30-day challenges here!).

For most of us, major lifestyle changes can cause havoc, not just for our routine but also for our families. As we build our step-by-step plans, it’s important to be realistic about how much change can be maintained…it may be slow at first, but no real changes come easily. 

To do this, break your goal up into manageable chunks that can be more easily integrated into your daily routine, even the most minuscule changes can yield the best results over time.

One way to start is to write down your schedule and see realistically where you have time, and where you can make it. The most important thing to remember about healthy people is they prioritize their health. There is time in the day to make changes, even if its 20 minutes at a time. That’s less than most people spend on social media every day. 

The second key to starting is to realize that being healthy and fit isn’t just about being motivated. You may see Facebook or Pinterest posts on “how to get motivated to workout” or spend hours researching how to be motivated to go to the gym every day (or a few times a week). The truth is, people aren’t always motivated to do all of these things. 

Staying Motivated

Every day after work I grab my gym bag and I head to LA Fitness…am I always motivated to go, or even be there…no? I’m not always motivated to do the healthier thing in my life, but I am motivated by my goal. Whether I want to do that 1-hour cycling class instead of cleaning or the million other tasks on my plate for that day, I strap my feet onto that demon cycle and get to peddling…because at the end of the day, I know that it’s what my body needs. 

The last tip is to EASE into your new routine. Starting your new year’s resolutions is a lot like cardio. It may seem exciting at first, or it may really suck, but it is something that gets easier the more you do it. You wouldn’t just up and try to run a marathon, would you? Maybe you’re not going to hit your goal of doing 1 hour of cardio every day right off the bat (and if you can, that’s still awesome!), but it is OKAY to start in smaller increments and work your way up. 

When you focus on working your way up to something instead of diving headfirst, it is significantly easier to take on the challenge, and most importantly, it allows you to set a short term goal that can keep you motivated along the way without burning you out before March. This is so true when it comes to health and fitness. While it may work for SOME people to quit junk food and pick up a new workout routine, it’s harder for most of us to change our day to day habits and schedules. 

Set your goals, get excited and CONQUER THE NEW YEAR!

What are some of your new year’s resolutions? Let us know in the comment section down below!