With the New Year just around the corner, there is no doubt you're thinking of ways to improve yourself in the coming year. If you're considering making a health or fitness resolution, how you go about accomplishing your goals is important, too. Knowing what motivates and inspires you to work hard can help make your 2018 resolutions successful.
1. Work out with a friend: Having someone to get up early with for a walk or to accompany you to a group class always makes things a little easier and more fun! You can push each other to show up even when it's cold or one of you is tired. Your walking buddy can even be four-legged!
2. Hire a personal trainer: Let's face it - we all perform better when we are being held accountable to someone. Letting a great trainer show you the ropes and keep you on track is a great way to be successful in 2018. A knowledgeable personal trainer can also make sure that you're performing exercises that are both effective and safe for your age and fitness level. This is a particularly good idea if you have injuries or ailments, like a back problem or arthritis.
3. Fitness tracker/competition: Who doesn't love a little healthy competition? There are plenty of apps, trackers and programs that let you go head-to-head with others to help you reach your fitness goals. Get a Fitbit and challenge your friends through the app or on Facebook. See if you can get others at your job involved in a fitness challenge. Often, personal trainers run fitness and weight-loss challenges, offering nice prizes as motivation for the winner. The results from that extra push to work hard will be a great prize, no matter who wins.
4. Set goals: Vague or large goals can seem unattainable and daunting. Be sure to be as specific as you can be with what you want to accomplish. Don't just say, "I want to eat healthier in 2018." Think of ways you might achieve that. "I will always have a more colorful plate" or, "I will drink only water and tea throughout my day" are more specific goals and easier to follow. An ambitious goal of losing 50 pounds should be broken down into smaller, more manageable goals that are also specific and measurable. "I will not eat more than 1800 calories each day" or "I will go for a walk 3 times this week" are smaller benchmarks that will help lead you down the path to your larger goal. Also, be sure to celebrate the small victories along the way. This is another way to motivate yourself to make the next small step.
Finding the right mindset and tools can mean the difference between success and failure in 2018. Good luck and happy New Year!