Okay, we all know the feeling – we’ve all been there. The New Year is in full swing and those well planned out New Year’s resolutions have, well, taken a bit of a back seat. Your good intentions of reaching your fitness goals are diminishing each and every day. Developing an attainable, practical workout regimen is challenging, there’s no doubt about that. But it can be even harder to stay on track when you’re battling the subzero temperatures of Minnesota. So what’s the secret? How do people balance all the demands of work and life and still find the time and motivation to exercise? You’re not alone, believe me, so here are a few tips to help you push through your winter workout slump and develop a workout routine you can actually stick to.
Put it on paper
Think of what it is you are trying to accomplish and write it down. Are you trying to lose weight? Run a marathon? Strengthen or tone a specific part of your body? Give yourself something real to shoot for, put it in writing and then post it somewhere you will see it every day. This will help you to visualize the results of getting a workout in and hopefully give you that boost of motivation you need.
Try something new
If you’re having a hard time getting yourself motivated to exercise, consider trying some new or different ways to get a workout in. Get your body moving by trying out a new activity like dancing or swimming. Target specific muscle groups with programs like Pilates, aerobic training or PowerPlate. Or, simply change your scenery and try out a new trail to run on or new gym location.
Move daily
Now don’t freak out. When I say, “move daily”, I don’t mean “run 10 miles every day” – I mean, just simply make physical activity part of your daily life. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, when you let your dog outside go with him, and embrace the parking spaces furthest from the stores front entrance.
Be flexible
Getting into routine is good but you need to remember that life happens and your routine will occasionally get thrown off. Don’t fret and don’t be hard on yourself – just move forward. See if there is somewhere else in your day you can fit your workout in and if you can’t, just amp up your next workout a bit to make up for it.
Treat yourself
The mental and physical rewards of exercising are priceless but sometimes a little extra incentive can help keep you moving towards your goals. Along with the goal that you establish, think of something to give yourself or do for yourself when you reach it.
There – a few helpful ideas to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions this year and actually see the results and accomplish the things you want.
