Rolling in the New Year brings new hope, new beginnings – and of course – New Year goals. It’s time to break free from the shackles of the previous 12 months. You’ve learned from your mistakes, and now it’s time to work on your success.
Like many people, your goals may focus on health – and like many people – you may be lost on where to start. How you start will determine whether you find long-term success, or come to a screaming halt a few weeks down the track.
4 Simple Concepts to Make Your New Year Goals a Sure-fire Way to Kick Off the Year with a BANG!
1. Set Goals
Set yourself small, realistic goals to achieve throughout the year. For example, if you want to improve your long distance running, you could aim to run 10 miles a week from January to March. Then, increase your weekly quota every three months, until you reach your ultimate goal.
Track your progress towards each mini goal to see if you’re heading closer or further away from it. There are many tracking tools available for each specific goal.
| Goal | Tracking Tools |
| Weight/Fat Loss | Before and After Photos
Body Composition Scanners Bathroom Scales + Body Measurements |
| Running Endurance | Wearable Tracking Devices
Cell Phone Apps Stop Watches |
| Strength | Training Journals |
The more consistent you are, the easier the work becomes. Make sure you plan specific times for your workouts, as the ‘when’ is just as important as the ‘how.’ Turning training into habit eliminates any chance of talking yourself out of a session.
2. Pick Up a New Sport or Hobby
Starting a sport, or hobby can help you discover motivation and help you knock off multiple goals at once. Sports like Soccer, Crossfit, Martial Arts and Tennis are great ways to lose weight, build endurance, improve flexibility and make new friends.
3. Workout with a Friend
Working towards any goal can be difficult. If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, it can be even harder. There’s no better way to add a little fun to your training sessions than by doing it with a friend.
Working out with a friend towards a common goal will give you motivation and help you stay accountable for your progress. I can let myself off with a missed workout here and there, but my friends would never let me hear the end of it!
If you’re finding it hard to get a friend to join you, try finding a Facebook group or, online message board, with like-minded people. These are often great forums for inspiration and tips to help on your way to your New Year goal.
4. Join a Gym
In the New Year, the number of new members entering a gym rises faster than a basketball player on an escalator. Unfortunately, this number tends to drop off over time. This is because many people fail to maintain motivation, as they’re just not sure what to do.
The best way to combat this uncertainty is to work with a qualified personal trainer. Many fitness facilities have resident PT’s who are more than happy to assist you towards your goals and can do so in a far shorter time than you ever could on your own.
