A New Year is approaching and you’re probably thinking about what your resolutions are for 2017. For most people, a new year is a fresh start to try something new or to stick to a new goal. However, resolutions can often times be tough to commit to when it’s something that you don’t already incorporate in your daily life. If you want to make a change, it’s best to incorporate it as a lifestyle change. When choosing your resolutions, remember to keep it practical and try not to set short-term goals such as “I’m going to cut out sugar for the next month.” I tend to stay away from the all-or-nothing approach as I like to enjoy things in moderation and stick to a 80/20 plan where 80% of the time I am eating clean, getting my workouts in, and focusing on my life goals and 20% of the time I like to relax and enjoy the simple things in life. Life is all about balance and finding what works for you.
Some other Tips for Sticking with a Resolution:
Make small changes toward your goals each day. If you are trying to eat healthier or lose weight, swap something unhealthy that you eat like white bread for whole wheat bread or increase the amount of days you exercise per week to 5 days instead of 3. These small changes will make a larger impact in the long-run. You shouldn’t expect to see results overnight.
Mark your progress down. Keep a calendar or scheduler handy and write down your accomplishments. If you exercised today, mark that on your calendar! You will feel great seeing the progress you made even if you are not seeing results overnight.
Look ahead. Whether it’s fitting into your “skinny” jeans or that vacation you have coming up, always keep an end goal in mind and strive to be better knowing that you have something you want to build towards. I like to schedule races throughout the year so that when I know I have a race coming up, I can’t slack in my running or workouts.
Make it enjoyable. If you aren’t enjoying it, you’re likely not going to stick with it. If you have a tough time motivating yourself to workout out, grab a partner – someone else’s motivation will likely rub off on you and you will be more accountable when you have committed to workout with someone else.
In 2017 I’m going to focus on meditating more and practicing more yoga. I enjoy a good sweat when I am working out, but the body needs rest and recovery from time-to-time.
What are some of your New Year’s Resolutions for 2017?
