From New Year Motivation to Real Consistency

It’s that time again

Second week of January, many of us feeling reinvigorated and happy for a fresh start flock to the gym.People ask

How long does this last?

The answer is typically mid-February.

All that New Year’s good spirit often wears off in about 4–6 weeks,Leaving people feeling disappointed and frustrated.

They really meant to make this year the year gang they would take care of their health and save some time for themselves.That is they decided to invest in themselves.

Or did they?

If they truly make the decision and the commitment to invest in themselves, would they be able to keep going?

The answer is that it’s more likely they would keep up the new routine.

But things still get in the way.We allow other things to take over.We deprioritize ourselves.We make excuses.

So how do we stay on track?

Is it even possible?

The answer is yes!!

Here are a few tips for those of us who fall off early in the year or find our gym trips dwindling and our healthy eating habits behind replaced with late-night snacking binges:

1. Think of the 1% rule

   If you improve by just 1% per day that really adds up.

   So rather than committing to going to the gym 6 days a week for over an hour,

   Start with something you know you will do,

   Something that fits into your schedule

   commitment.

   Do twenty minutes of daily activity

   OR

   Go to the gym 3 times per week & work out for 30 minutes

   OR If that seems daunting, start with 10 minutes per day and add one minute until you are at 30 minutes.

   
   

2. Get involved & get some coaching

   The best way to fast-track results is to work with someone who knows more than you do in a specific area.

   If you were trying to improve your public speaking skills or camera skills, for example, you would hire a coach.

   Same goes with fitness and nutrition.

   Get a qualified trainer to create a fitness plan or nutrition plan that you can follow.

   Even doing one session and getting a plan will help remove an obstacle of "I don’t know what to do."

   
   

3. Go with a friend

   Feeling shy or intimidated in the gym?

   Grab a friend who feels the same and take them along with you.

   
   

4. Go to a place that takes less than 10 minutes to get to

   We constantly hear stories of people who join a gym that is a 30-minute commute by TTC.

   While that may sound okay, it adds a minimum of 60 minutes to each workout, not to mention the wait times for streetcars that never show up!!

   Likewise, if you have to drive 20 minutes and find parking, ugh, that’s too much.

   Pick a place you can walk to or go to on your lunch break.

5. Set a goal and then plan a reward

   
   

   Think of something you would like to treat yourself to,

   Then decide what you need to do to "earn" that reward.

   For example, go to the gym 2x per week for January and then you get to go to the spa for a massage.

   Make this goal action-related instead of results-oriented. That way you can reward yourself for taking action and not worrying if you hit a target.