Sticking with your New Year’s Resolutions

As another year comes to a close, this is a great time to reflect on what we have accomplished in the last year and how we can improve ourselves moving forward. Many people use the beginning of a new year to begin working on a new self. One of the most common New Year’s resolutions people make is to work out more, lose weight, and be healthier overall.
Although working out and being healthier is a great New Year’s resolution, it is important to go about this in a safe and healthy manner to ensure that you stick with it. Many people will tend to overdo it, doing new or additional exercises that their body is not used to. They may end up very sore or with an overuse injury such as tendonitis or a muscle strain. Here are a few tips to help you incorporate exercise into your routine safely and how to stick with it.

1. Check with your doctor.  If you are not a very active person or have any health issues, it is important to get a physical before beginning any new exercise program.
2. Get a workout buddy.  Enlist a friend who is also motivated to join you with your workouts. You will be more likely to go to the gym or go for a walk if you make a commitment with a friend.
3. Make sure you warm up and cool down. Spend at least 5 minutes at the beginning and end of the workout warming up or cooling down your muscles. Doing so will help decrease your chance of a muscle strain or from being very sore later on.
4. Don’t progress too quickly.  If you are doing resistance or weight exercises, start with a lighter weight and do 2 or 3 sets of 10. Stick with this for a few weeks then slowly increase the weights by only one pound increments. If your goal is to walk or run 3 miles, start with half a mile and slowly increase the distance by half a mile every few weeks.
5. Write down your goals.  If your goals are written down in a place where you can see them often, it will serve as a good reminder to help you stick with it.
6. Be realistic.  Set small goals that can be attainable. You are far more likely to stick with them if they don’t not seem so insurmountable.
7. Realize that setbacks may happen.  If you have a week where you don’t exercise as much or don’t eat as healthy, don’t let it throw you off the track. Look at the next week as another new start for your healthy habits.
8. Reward yourself.  When you write down your goals at the beginning of the year, think about potential rewards for yourself when you meet them. Whether it is a new pair of shoes or something bigger, you will have more motivation to work towards achieving your goals.

Good luck with your New Year’s Resolutions.  Don’t wait until the last minute to write them down, start making a list now of what is important to you and what you would like to accomplish in the New Year.