The beginning of a new year is always an excellent time to set new goals and accomplish new achievements. Arguably the most popular resolution that people make is to get more physically fit, either for weight loss or to simply become healthier. This can be hard to keep up with however, and the majority of people will soon start to lose motivation and fail to stay devoted to their resolution.
If this sounds familiar, here are a few tips to help you stay active this year.
Sign up for a gym membership
One of the easiest ways to live a more active year is to sign up to your local gym. Going to the gym is one of the easiest ways to get into shape and you can build a routine around your capabilities and goals. Most memberships are fairly affordable and are open throughout the entire week, meaning you can fit a quick workout session around your schedule. But, don’t be like everyone else and stop going after a month. Stay focussed and find a partner to go with to keep you motivated.
Buy yourself some new gear
It’s funny how the right clothes can make us feel. If you workout in old and uncomfortable sweats, you’ll probably feel pretty lousy. However, if you buy yourself some new and fashionable items you’ll want to get your money out of them and show them off. Footwear can also make a lot of difference and it’s incredibly important to have the right shoe for your activity. If you’re not a fan of the gym, take a look at water shoes which are perfect and practical for both hiking and water sports. Purchasing something that’s multi-functional will help you to get more active and adventurous.
Sign up for an event
Signing up for an event is a great way to get you working towards a fitness goal. For example, sign up for a running event and create a training plan that will help you prepare for it. You could push yourself to run a little bit further each time you go out and practice. Doing this will be extremely rewarding and is a sure way to keep you active.
Walk more
Walking is one of the easiest ways to stay fit and burn some extra calories. It doesn’t even have to be anything or anywhere elaborate, simply walking down to the shops instead of driving, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator will help. One way to help you keep this up is to purchase a pedometer that tracks your steps. You’ll soon get in competition with yourself and will want to beat the previous day’s result.
Sign up for a new sport
Many people are under the impression that sports clubs are mainly for the younger generation, but that’s not the case. Have a look at what’s going on where you live and get involved in something your passionate about, or have always wanted to try. Perhaps there was something that you loved doing as a child, and gave up on as you got older. Many clubs and facilities will also have beginners courses if it’s new to you, so you needn’t worry about being inexperienced.
Spend more time in the outdoors
If you are not excited by group sports, simply start spending more time outdoors and in nature. Taking long hikes in the outdoors not only makes you more active, but it gives you time to contemplate and have a bit of alone time. This not only helps your physical wellbeing, but it can also be highly beneficial to your mental wellbeing and will lead to a much healthier and positive lifestyle. There may even be hiking clubs that you can join to help ensure you don’t lose motivation when going it alone.
Find a partner
As previously discussed, staying active when there’s no one there to encourage you or keep you engaged can be tough. This is where a partner can be handy. Having someone by your side in the gym can make it seem like less of a challenge, and you won’t want to cancel on them when you can’t be bothered to go. You can encourage each other to meet goals and make it more light-hearted by having a laugh along the way. Speak to a close friend or family member as soon as you can, and start creating a fitness plan for 2017 together.
Living a more active lifestyle will benefit you in many ways. Your mental and physical wellbeing will feel the rewards and eventually, exercise will become a common part of your routine and not a task. The above are just a few small differences you can make each day to help you to achieve a more active lifestyle.
Setting yourself a challenge and trying to stick to it is tough, but there are ways to ease the process.
