A new year often feels like a fresh start, a great opportunity to eliminate bad habits and establish new routines that will help you grow. However, by February, the “New Year” tends to wear off. 55% of Americans will have a goal that is health-related. Some might commit to joining a gym, losing weight, becoming healthier; while others may sign up for a 5K or a half marathon. The truth is without a plan, 80% of these resolutions fail by February.
Kim Robinson, manager of Snap Fitness in Calvert City, shared five tips to help citizens stay committed to 2020 New Year’s resolutions.
1. Make your goal realistic. Your goal and motivation should be realistic. No matter how big or small your goal making change requires planning and SMART goal setting.
5 basic principles to making a goal:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Based
SPECIFIC-Your goal should be clear and easy to understand. A common goal, “get healthy,” is too general. There are so many ways to get healthy. How do you want to do it? Is it losing weight? Start exercising? Stop smoking? Break it down and it will be easier to manage.
MEASURABLE-A goal to “lose weight” or “get healthier” is not enough. Making your goal measurable means adding a number.
ATTAINABLE-Before you can add a number, you have to know how high or low you want to go. It’s good to ‘shoot for the stars’, but don’t be too extreme. Likewise, a goal that is too easy is also not very motivating. Only you know your limits.
RELEVANT-Set goals that are important to where you are in your life right now. Don’t set a goal that someone else is pressuring you to attain-that isn’t very motivating. Write down your goals and put them somewhere you will see them every day as a constant reminder.
TIME FRAME-Include an end-point. Knowing that you have a deadline motivates you to get started. Many are also motivated by upcoming events (weddings, vacations, graduations, etc).
2. Accountability. It’s always harder to cancel on a workout if you’ve committed to going with a friend, just like it’s hard to forget your goals if you’ve told your personal trainer, friend, or family member about them. Tell others about the change you’re making.
3. Download a Fitness Tracker. You’ve created your fitness goals, now it’s time to keep track of what you’re doing. There are many free fitness apps available for download to help keep track of your progress. Some of Kim’s favorites – MyZone Heart Rate, Effort Tracker, Map My Run, Lose It and My Fitness Pal.
4. Plan to Mess Up. The truth is, we’re all human! We’re going to mess up! If you deviate from the plan, don’t punish yourself or slip back into old habits completely. Use each ‘mess up’ as a learning experience.
5. Celebrate Success! Set rewards for achieving milestones and celebrate
small wins!
Calvert City offers many ways to stay active in 2020! Here’s just a few:
- Join one of our two gyms, Snap Fitness or Mega Gym.
- Take daily walks on the Calvert City multi-use trail.
- Free yoga on Saturdays and Mondays at Calvert City Civic Center.
- Kayak or Canoe Kentucky Lake.
- Play a round of Disc-Golf.
- Join the Calvert City Pickleball Group.
Keep those 2020 New Year’s Resolutions going!