Change Your Mindset

Having the right mindset is essential for sustaining and managing your fitness goals. Without it, your goals will become the cliché New Year’s resolution that never got accomplished.

We recommend integrating physical activity into your daily routine. For example, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or walking instead of driving short distances. Also, try finding activities that align with your interests. Love listening to music? Pump up the volume while you do some squats!

By making fitness a natural part of your lifestyle and NOT a chore, you’ll find your mindset slowly changes and you approach exercise in a more positive way.

Set Realistic Goals

Before starting your fitness journey, it’s extremely important to set clear and realistic goals. After all, a common mistake people make when setting goals is completely overwhelming themselves.

The key to staying on track is to start off small and simple. From there, you can keep building on your goals, progressively adding more along the way. That way, you’re immediately setting yourself up to succeed instead of feeling like you’re doomed from the start.

This can be done by defining specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. In other words, breaking down long-term goals into smaller, more manageable milestones. 

Create a Fitness Plan

It’s easier to start something when you know what you’re doing. So, we recommend creating a fitness plan in advance. That way, you’ll be ready to get started without fear of the unknown.

Consistency is essential when you’re on a fitness journey, so it’s important for your routine to fit around your lifestyle. For example, if you work long days or have lots of chores to do, going to the gym every day is probably out the question. Often, working out from home is a better option.

Mixing up your workouts is a great way to keep things interesting. So, when planning a routine, incorporate a mix of cardio, strength training, flexibility, and balance exercises. Also, make sure you pick exercises that challenge different muscle groups to avoid plateaus. And remember to choose exercises and activities you enjoy as you’re more likely to stay on track.

If you’re looking for inspiration, visit our Fitness Hub, where you’ll find a wide range of exercises you can do at home.

Get a Workout Buddy

Some people find exercise more manageable when they’re doing it with a friend. After all, it’s easier to find motivation when you’re with someone who has a similar ability or shares the same goals. Plus, it’s more enjoyable. Who doesn’t have a good time when they’re with their friends?

It’s also comforting to be able to share your goals with someone who can support or encourage you while you do the same for them. This is especially helpful if one of you has a dip in motivation as there’s always someone there to bring you back up. There’s also the benefit of friendly competition. You’re likely to do it without even realising, but a little competitiveness can push you to work even harder.

If friends are too busy, there are plenty of classes and team sports you can join, allowing you to make new friends along the way!

Track Your Progress

Tracking your progress can play a big role in motivating you to continue. After all, you’re more likely to want to carry on if you can see it’s making a difference. Of course, seeing the benefits takes time – often longer than you think! But documenting it will allow you identify minor changes and stay on the path to success.

Ways to track your progress include keeping a workout journal or using fitness apps. Another obvious one is taking photos. After all, the best way to feel like you’ve accomplished something is seeing the physical progression. It’s also important to celebrate small victories and use any setbacks as opportunities to learn and adjust your approach.

Reward Yourself

Resolutions shouldn’t just be about pushing yourself and cutting things out of your life, so establish a reward system for achieving your milestones.

When we say reward yourself, we don’t mean eating an entire box of chocolates, or a McDonalds meal for two. Instead, celebrate your achievements by treating yourself to something you enjoy that doesn’t contradict your resolution.

For example, if part of your resolution is to stick to a healthy diet, why not reward yourself with new fitness clothing? After all – look good, feel good, train good! This is a great way to reinforce commitment.

Prioritise Recovery

No matter how keen you are to get started, you should never forget about your rest days. Pushing yourself to the max every day probably won’t help you accomplish your fitness goals. Although you might start strong, you’ll find you quickly burn out. Or, worse still, pick up an injury.

We recommend having one or two rest days in your workout plan to avoid burnout and ensure your plan is achievable. Also, rest days don’t mean you can’t partake in any form of exercise. You can still get the blood flowing by engaging in recovery activities, such as walking using a foam roller, or doing a gentle yoga session.  

Also, it's important to focus on sleep, nutrition, and stress management to support your overall health and wellbeing.

Seek Guidance

If you find yourself struggling in a gym environment, it might be a good idea to hire a personal trainer or participate in fitness classes for guidance and motivation.

Personal trainers aren’t only available in a gym. There are also lots of online coaches who can help you with your fitness and meal plans while encouraging you to continue.

Consult with healthcare professionals if you have any health concerns or specific fitness goals.