How to Motivate a New Year Fitness Kick
By Genevieve Cunningham
Motivation is often the hardest part about working out. We might feel motivation initially, but it quickly wanes as the difficulty of the process sets in. But with the new year on its way, many of us are looking for ways to make the motivation more powerful, for ways to push through the hard parts and make our fitness programs last. If you would like to get your fitness program off the ground running in the new year, take a look at these tips for keeping your motivation alive.
Sign Up for a Fun Run
Fun runs give us a goal. Even if you don't particularly enjoy the running itself, the process of the fun run can make it better. The friendly competition, the cause, the shirts, the planning. Choose one that is for a cause you care about. Then find a running program and get started. Sign up early so that you can't back out, and then enjoy the process. A fun run can help you keep going when you would normally quit, as it gives you an end goal to help keep your eye on the prize.
Set a Spring Break Goal
When the new year comes around and we want to set a fitness goal, many of us automatically think to summer. We imagine our bikini bodies frolicking in the sand at a beach somewhere. But this goal is hard to stick with because it's so far away. If you want something a little shorter, choose a spring break goal. Plan a mini vacation, and then set a goal to lose a certain amount of weight or fit into a certain pair of pants by then. This makes the goal only about two and a half months away instead of five months. Making the goal a little shorter term is a good way to keep you going.
Join a New Class
Fitness should be fun! The new year is a good time to try something new. Look for new classes at your local gym, and join one! This might help you find a new fitness plan to enjoy, and it may also introduce you to new friends to help you stay motivated. If you really need something fun, and you need accountability, this option is a sure bet.
It might be challenging to keep your motivation up after the rush of the new year passes, but it's certainly not impossible. Use these tips to improve your chances of staying motivated and on track. With a little push in the right direction, you may be able to stick to your fitness goals and finally better your health this year.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Castle Rock, Colo.