Did you know, research shows 80% of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions by mid-February? 80% is a very BIG number but it’s not surprising. Think about it–starting a resolution in January is just not realistic. You are just coming off of the holiday season, your workload is at its busiest that it’s been in months, it’s (usually) terribly cold outside and frankly, who wants to start something so life-changing after all that downtime? But April…Now April is the perfect time to start FRESH.
I encourage you to think of the last few months as the ramp-up period, or the pre-resolution training for your goal-hitting success. You are now more prepared than ever to achieve the results you considered to be out of reach at the end of last year. If you’re like 80% of the world you may not have achieved your goals entirely but assuming your resolutions are wellness-oriented, you likely have exercised more frequently, ‘cleaned’ up your diet more than before, you maybe did a “Dry January” and probably even started a few other aspects of your resolution. This is the perfect way to get you in the proper mindset to be successful–now it is time to put your sights on truly achieving your goals.
Here are a few tips to help you with your new year’s resolution this April.
- Talk to a healthcare professional to ensure you are ready to safely get started.
- Then, talk to a fitness professional about the best course of action. Most fitness centers like ours offer a complimentary session to help you map out your fitness programming. Don’t be shy, there is great value there.
- Create S.M.A.R.T goals. SMART Goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based. This will help you set appropriate and achievable goals.
- Focus on small achievements that lead to bigger results. Get a few ‘wins’ under your belt to increase your chances of long-term success. As an example, instead of cutting sweets out entirely. Maybe allow yourself a smaller portion a few nights before cutting them out entirely.
- Plan ahead or plan to fail. Take out your clothes the night before (for all I care, sleep in them!). Plan your workouts. Try meal prepping for the week on Sundays.
- Understand that all great things took time to achieve. Your results will be there, just be patient.
- Join a fun, collaborative, and empowering fitness challenge to help keep you accountable. Most fitness centers offer free challenges to help keep you on track. Otherwise, you can search online for a supportive community to help you along. It’s always nice to connect with folks who are in the same boat as you.
- Last but not least, and most importantly, believe in yourself.
Ps. It doesn’t hurt that summer is right around the corner as a secondary motivator. #summerbod here you come!
Written by:
Mark Koester, Fitness Product Manager
Mark Koester has been a prominent figure in the New York City fitness industry for over 15 years and joined the team as Director of Fitness at the prestigious 92nd Street Y. With Mark’s expertise and knowledge within fitness he coordinates our fitness product relationships and opportunities for the organization. Mark also supports the fitness sites or our corporate locations. Throughout Mark’s career, he has received several awards and accolades for personal training sales and thoughtful fitness programming/development. He is also a subject matter expert with ACE Fitness in the fields of Personal Training, and Health Coaching.