The New Year is the perfect time to hit the reset button on your workout routine. That’s especially true if you have been struggling with it lately. By heading into a fresh year with the determination to reach your best fitness level, you’ll find that working out comes naturally to you. You might even begin to enjoy it! To kickstart your exercises, so you make the most of the time you spend pouring out sweat, check out these great tips.
Get the Proper Gear
With all the right gear, you’re ready to dive into the fitness goal of your choosing. The whole thing will not only seem easier but feel far easier too. For starters, you’ll have the motivation to get cracking with your workout routine to avoid wasting money you just spent on gear, such as a quality headlamp for running safely at night.
Also, the better the gear you choose, the smoother the working out process will be. With Christmas coming up, consider asking for presents to help you ramp up New Year’s fitness adventure.
Try a New Workout Routine
The new year is always a good time to try something new. This sentiment is the case in most of life’s aspects, if not all of them. But it rings especially true when it comes to getting fit. By spicing up the way you do things to get fit and healthy, you’ll get a renewed enthusiasm to do the workout routine. And do it with more energy as a result!
But if you feel that your exercise regime has become stale for you, why not change it up entirely and try a sporting activity instead? By doing so, you’ll gain all the fitness benefits of a typical workout routine and also have fun. It’s important to enjoy what you’re doing!
You could also try a sport designed to boost a specific part of your health. For example, you might take up squash to improve your cardiovascular fitness. Or, you could simply try your favorite sport on a more frequent or intense level.
Even if this sport is a relatively slow-paced one, like golf, the benefits are still there. For example, try walking around the golf course rather than taking a cart; you’ll burn way more calories by doing so. Furthermore, if you decide to give golf a go, remember the earlier advice to get the right gear! If you’re struggling to decide what you should ask Santa for this Christmas, why not put some new golf irons on your list?
Don’t Focus Right Away on Progress (Or the Lack of)
If you start a workout routine in the New Year, the reality is there’ll be a learning curve. With trial and error, you can start to get better in yoga positions or another activity. And, if you eat and drink too much over the holidays, be kind to yourself. We all trip up now and then.
In other words, try to avoid worrying about being bad at first as that will only put a damper on your enthusiasm. Yup, it’ll throw your motivation right out the window!
Whatever the circumstances, it doesn’t matter if you aren’t up to speed when it comes to kickstarting your New Year’s workout routine. All that matters is that you give the sport or other activity a genuine effort.
Be Realistic with Your Goals
Something else that can test your enthusiasm to work out is an inability to meet the goals that you set for yourself. To avoid this momentum killer, it’s quite simple. Set yourself with some realistic goals and realistic time frames to achieve them. This doesn’t mean going easy on yourself.
Instead, what we mean is to exercise to the best of your ability and make a note of what you can improve on in the future. At the end of the day, you’re the one who is either going to benefit or be held back by the workout routine. So, for your own sake, choose realistic athletic goals.
Give Walking a Go
Why not make this the year that you ditch your car for short distances and resolve to walk them instead? You’ll be sure to feel many benefits, even by the time February rolls around. It’s the perfect way to boost your heart health without using up too much of your energy. Thus you can still give your ramped-up workout routine the time and effort it demands while also making time to fit in walking as extra exercise.
By using the momentum that the New Year naturally provides, you’ll be able to kickstart your workout routine and change your life for the better!
This new year, I decided to forget about free weights altogether. I’ve started using suspension straps and my joints have never felt better.
It’s true what you said about the right gear. It should complement our body, not force it to something that could be harmful.
I tried the TRX recently and really liked it! Wishing you a great next workout :)
I always wanted to learn how to do boxing but felt I wouldn’t be strong enough because I’m female 😑
Never let those images of women’s weaknesses stop you!
Really Amazing !!! i would like to add to my bookmark. thank you for sharing !!
I’m so pleased by these words!
Walking is our favorite form of exercise although I should try out a few more machines at the gym just to mix it up a bit. January is right around the corner and always a good month to make resolutions about better health initiatives. Have a wonderful end of this holiday season and great year to come.
January brings those New Year resolutions for many ~ and lots of people use this new beginning of the year to set health goals, as you say, Peggy. I wish you and your an amazing 2019! Thanks for the great words here.
Seems I needed to read this. Spoke right to me hahaha.
Sounds like good timing ;)
Very timely post, Christy, and good advice. It’s much easier to design, and keep, realistic goals (resolutions) for ourselves. I wish you and yours a very happy holiday season, and blessings for the new year.
Your kinds words are so appreciated, Amy. May you and family have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and ring in a beautiful year ahead xo
Thank you Christy! I hope the same for you and yours!
BIG hugs Amy!
Great tips it’s helps
Glad to hear it!
thank you for the encouragement! :)
And you too, Wendi :)
:) Bless you!
Blessings xo
Awesome content !
Thanks Neha!
Thanks Neha
I need to get this framed haha. Good stuff as always.
Kick butt soon – I’ll join you!
Deal!
OK, see you in workout gear soon then!!
Great Post
Appreciative!
Thank you
As soon as I was the picture of boxing, I just had to read your post. Did boxing yesterday, and will be again tomorrow. Today was Zumba and legs.
Woohoo Zumba is a lot of fun too!
We had a birthday party there today.
Hi Susie, how is the exercise going this week? I plan to get back to it when back home :)
I walked the beach 3 times a day last week, and did upper body and boxing at the gym, while on vacation. I never miss a day. Actually lost weight.
Awesome. You’re in terrific shape :)
Sure is.