New Year, New Me Motivation Tips
The festive season and 2020 is well and truly over and the time has come to make (and break!) your New Year’s resolutions. Here at Zone Fitness Clubs, we’re all about helping you meet your goals. Whatever it is you want to achieve in 2021, here are a few handy motivation tips to see you through the January blues and beyond!
DON’T DWELL
“I’ve put on so much weight over Christmas.”
“I can’t lift as heavy as I used to.”
“It’s been ages since I went to my gym – I can’t possibly go back now!”
Our first, and possibly hardest tip to follow, is: do not dwell. This attitude gets you nowhere. So, you’ve let yourself go a little? Who doesn’t during the festivities?! Concentrate on moving forward and getting back on track rather than moping. It’s a tough one to master but once you realise focusing on the past won’t change it, you can move on and smash your goals.
SET REALISTIC GOALS
Aiming to lose 20kg in January isn’t realistic. Neither is setting yourself the evil task of hitting the gym at the break of dawn seven days a week. Be reasonable. Set attainable goals that challenge you but aren’t impossible. Setting unrealistic goals will only knock your confidence because, if you don’t meet them, you’ll feel like a failure.
PLAN IT IN
Gym sessions, workout classes, activities: Schedule them in. Physically plotting these events into your diary will make them feel “official” and you’ll feel as if you can’t miss them. Planning a workout with a friend is also a good way to ensure your commitment – you’re less likely to let a friend down than yourself.
RECORD YOUR PROGRESS
Keeping a record of how you’re getting on is vital when working towards a goal. Maybe you want to try and eat a more varied diet – try keeping a food diary. Maybe you want to be more active during the day. Try investing in a fitness tracker and keeping tabs on your steps. For those keen to build muscle, lose weight or change the shape of their body – try taking regular progress photos.
Whatever your goal, keeping a record of your progress is a great way to look back at your achievements. When you’re in the moment, it can feel as if little has changed. Taking a look back at the progress you’ve made can be the only motivation you need to continue.
TRY SOMETHING NEW
A new activity or food is the perfect way to spark passion and motivation. Give a new workout class and go and, you never know, you might love it and end up attending a few times a week. Or why not rustle up a healthy new dish for your dinner? Creating nutritious but tasty meals that you enjoy will encourage you to continue eating healthily. It’ll also encourage you to try more recipes and ingredients – win!
TREAT YOURSELF
When you’re working hard towards a goal, it can be easy to restrict yourself. But a treat now and then never hurt anyone! If you plan on upping your fitness sessions each week, invest in some new workout clothes. Not only will you feel more confident during the sessions, but you’re more likely to attend if it means trying out your new items!
If you plan on cutting back after a calorific Christmas, remember to factor in a treat or two into your plan. This could be a takeaway on a Friday night or a few biscuits with your afternoon cup of coffee. Restricting yourself to salads and veggies all day, every day soon becomes boring and you’ll be more likely to binge and fall off the wagon. Plus, life’s all about balance – if you really want the cake, eat the cake!
Feeling motivated? We hope these tips will help you make 2021 the best it can be.