New Year’s Resolution: How to Stay on Track

Yes, it’s that time of year again… We, along with every other fitness studio on the planet, know you’re thinking about health changes you’d like to make. And we leap at the chance to show you how we can help you reach them!

At Method Gym, we know we have the fitness and wellness solutions for nearly any health resolution you can dream up.

But there’s a bigger tool we’d like you to have in your arsenal: the power to create a fitness resolution that absolutely sticks.

Below, our personal training team is sharing their top things to consider when making a resolution, and how to ensure you keep it!

Not all New Year’s resolutions are created equal. Creating a powerful resolution – that sticks! – involves much more than just stating intentions. Meaningful, lasting change requires a thoughtful approach, in both setting the resolution and deciding how to accomplish it.

A great resolution will include:

If you’re not absolutely clear on what you want to achieve, it will be harder to see a clear path to achieving it.

It certainly helps if your resolution is within the realm of possibility. If you set out with a lofty goal – say, to lose 100 pounds at the beginning of the year – you could be setting yourself up for failure. That’s not to say that it can’t be done – in fact, we’ve seen it for a number of our clients – but it’s certainly not guaranteed, even if you’re putting in perfect effort. Choosing 25-50 pounds still gives you a stretch goal, without feeling overwhelming. You can always move the dial on your resolution during the year!

Identifying your “why” will give you the inspiration to keep working towards your goals as the year progresses. For example, let’s say you want to lose weight. That’s the outcome you’re seeking – but why do you want to lose weight? Do you want to be able to keep up with your kids? Have more confidence? Reduce your risk of disease? Inspire others in your family or friend group? Keying in on your why will go a long way in keeping you on track to achieving your goal.

Carefully assess your current circumstances and be honest about what you can realistically achieve. What are your strengths and limitations? How much time do you have in your day to work towards your goals? What resources are available to you?

From there, establish a reasonable timeframe to achieving your goals, with the tools you have on hand. Giving yourself enough time to make steady progress will help to ensure you can meet your goal.

You’ll have a much easier time ensuring resolution success if you can quantify your efforts.

Examples include:

• The number of times each week you complete a task
• Measuring time spent on an activity (running, writing, etc.)
• Tracking achievements along the way with mini-milestones
• Give yourself timeframes for achieving individual goals within your resolution
  • “Lose 5 pounds by April 1st”
  • “Bench press 140 pounds by June 1st”
  • “Complete one chapter of the book you’re writing by February 5th”

Now that you’ve created a great resolution, let’s turn our attention to ways to help you stick with it! Check out these practical tips for maintaining your resolve to keep your resolution.

When we have a big goal, it can be hard to believe we can get there, especially when the end feels so far away. Creating – and celebrating – smaller milestones along the way will help to keep you in the game for the long haul.

Small, consistent efforts can lead to huge achievements! Look for ways to incorporate your resolution into your daily life. Create daily habits and routines that support your goal, and fully integrate it into your lifestyle.

Use a journal, app, or checklist to note your progress. It takes just a few moments to complete, and will give you daily reminders of what you’re working towards. And in those moments where you feel like giving up, it will give you a quick reminder of all of the progress you’ve made!

As circumstances change in your life, your resolution – or the ways you’re working to achieve it – may have to flex as well. Give yourself space to adjust your timeline, plan, or goals if needed as the year unfolds.

Picture yourself having just accomplished your resolution. Where are you? What does life feel like? How do you feel about yourself? Hold that vision for a few moments – and refer back to it should you experience any setbacks or doubts!

Setbacks are inevitable, especially when you set a large goal. If you dwell on your failures, you’ll have a harder time getting back on track. Learn from your setbacks and keep pushing forward!

Take some time to recognize your resolution milestones along the way. Whether you celebrate solo – perhaps with a special activity like a massage or shopping day – or with friends, honoring your successes along the way will fuel you to keep going. The process is just as important as the end result. Make sure you’re enjoying yourself along the way to your ultimate goal!

There’s strength in numbers! Discuss your resolution with your friends, family members, or coworkers. It will not only cement your resolution in your mind – making it feel more real – but will also help hold you accountable and create support. You could also journal progress along the way or use an app to keep you accountable.

Creating a fitness or nutrition resolution you can actually stick to isn’t easy. At Method Gym locations in Dale City, VA, Leonardtown, MD and California, MD, our personal training team has the tools, expertise, and friendly customer service to help! Learn more about personal training and contact us to get started now.