The beginning of the year is by far one of my favorite times of the year. It’s a time when things start over. It’s the beginning of many new adventures as others come to their finish.
For many, this is also a time when we once again set our health and fitness goals. However, for some reason, every year we find ourselves falling into the same cycle. We get motivated, join a gym, and cut out sugar (for the first two weeks of January), but then a few weeks in, motivation is gone, the stress of work sets back in, life starts going and once again our health and fitness gets put on the back burner.
For me, this is how it was for many years until I got to a place where I was so fed up with disappointing myself.
I told myself I was done with this cycle. So I set out to find a way to not feel like a failure every year and to be able to achieve my resolutions once and for all. Funny thing is, it wasn’t about a formula. Turns out it was all about my perspective. Over the past 15 years, my health and fitness journey has continually evolved.
I have failed many times and given up many times. I have also achieved many goals and accomplished things I never thought I could.
My newfound perspective has helped me to continue forward. It’s not all about how I look anymore. It’s about caring for my true authentic self and doing what she wants to do, looking more internally rather than at my physicality and in turn choosing joy over expectation.
This year I encourage you to change your perspective. Live life even when you feel like you’re not pretty enough or good enough. Spend your time helping others and yourself. Find the things that bring you joy. Let go of all the guidelines and expectations. It’s time to create a lifestyle you will enjoy and can feel good about. Here are 7 tips to help you achieve your New Year’s resolutions.
1. Practice Loving Yourself Just The Way You Are
You are perfect. Your worth and value to the world and the people who truly love you will never be about how you look. It can be hard to believe these things especially if you’ve ever been told otherwise but, you have to be your biggest fan no matter what you are going through. Because when you believe in yourself you become unstoppable.
2. Don’t swear off “Junk” food
If you don’t like the taste of fast food like pizza, burgers, fries, etc, then don’t eat it but, if it’s something you enjoy then enjoy it. Just eat less of it less often. Don’t deprive, moderate. We have become a culture of “binge”. Deprivation leads us to it naturally. So, give yourself permission to eat the things you want to occasionally then you won’t feel the need to overcompensate later.
3. Set Small Precise and Realistic Goals
You can’t lose thirty pounds in one month unless you are putting in hours at the gym and eating super clean. Even then you would have to restrict calorie intake big time and would most likely end up burned out. Pick small precise goals like working out three times this week or eating a salad for lunch every day this month. If your goals are realistic and attainable, you will have a higher chance of reaching those goals and making new ones.
4. Quit Going It Alone
It can be hard to take on challenges without good support. So find a friend or a fitness community online to join. Not only will this help you to not be so hard on yourself, but knowing that you aren’t alone in your journey will help you keep your chin up when it gets hard.
5. Be Kind To Yourself
It’s so easy to be hard on ourselves. Sometimes we miss a workout or two or three, sometimes we don’t see results right away. It can be a natural tendency to take our disappointment out on ourselves. But this is the thing, the most powerful and influential words you’ll ever hear are those you have spoken to yourself. Be kind to you. Your heart and head are so much more important than a missed workout.
6. Bring Some Zen Into Your Life
Start practicing something that will help you unwind and hear yourself. Whether it’s taking a walk daily, journaling for a few minutes, drinking a hot cup of tea in the morning, etc. Take time to have a peaceful moment and be completely present with yourself.
7. Make a Vision Board
Visualization goes a long way when it comes to staying motivated. Find things that inspire you and remind you of who you are, and of who you will become. You can use Pinterest, download photos on your phone, or go old school and glue or pin pictures to poster board. Look at it every day. Know that with hard work and dedication you will achieve anything you set out to do. Look at your board then look at yourself and go kick butt this new year.
