Fitness Tips for The New Year
Don't let it be a 'get back in shape' start to the New Year. Keep on top of your exercise plans now and give yourself a head start in 2019. Take a look at the following New Year tips to see if these could have a positive effect on your fitness goals.
New Challenge
Introduce a new form of exercise into your life. Don't let yourself get too familiar with the same form of exercise. There might be a sport you've always wanted to try or a different exercise that you've seen others doing in the gym. Giving this a go will likely be working new muscle groups that you don't normally use and therefore improving your all-round fitness. You might enjoy your new exercise so much, that this soon becomes part of your main exercise routine. Introducing something new could even be a small addition to your everyday lifestyle, such as taking the stairs instead of the lift. Even the little things add-up in the long term.
Exercise Partner
Get a friend or friends to join your workouts. When you are struggling to get yourself down to the gym or out for a jog, your friend can be the one dragging you out of the house to get your workout in. This puts less pressure on you being the sole motivator and also gives you a good reason to have a regular catch up with your buddy.
Warm-Up
Going out for a run or got a kick about with your friends? Don't underestimate the importance of warming up before hand. If you've had a long period of inactivity coupled with the cold weather, you can be susceptible to injury, therefore it's important to ease yourself back in with a warm-up. You don't want an injury to mean activity in the New Year has halted before you've even started.
Yourself
Look after number one. This time of year you're likely to be due a rest so don't feel bad about putting your feet up and having a relax. Giving yourself a rest is an important ingredient to a balanced lifestyle and can make you hungrier when you do come to exercise again. A small break now and again can prevent a loss of motivation. Don't let yourself burn-out and miss out on all the exercise opportunities in the New Year.
Encouragement
Find a source of motivation. You won't see any changes overnight so you've got to find a form of inspiration which is going to keep you in it for the long haul. You might be working towards a certain weight or aiming to get yourself in shape for your next holiday. Encouragement comes in many different forms so you've got to find out what works best for you. It can be as simple as listening to a workout playlist or reading an inspirational quote to get yourself going before exercise. Already think you've found your source of motivation? Why not try adding something different to see if it takes you to the next level.
Achievable
Be realistic. Any New Years goals that you are setting yourself, make them achievable and specific. If you're going to the gym for a spin or heading out for a jog around the park, set yourself a target to reach a defined distance in a set amount of time. Setting yourself short-term targets will make the long-term goals much more achievable. Hitting and crossing off your short-term targets allows you to visualise your road to long-term success.
Reward
Had an active week and met your fitness goals? Give yourself a little reward. Treating yourself can have a positive knock-on effect to your future exercise commitments and before you know it, you could be training harder and more frequently. There's nothing better than feeling like you've really earned a reward. This can be anything from your favourite coffee to go, a little shopping spree or organising a social event.
