The first few weeks of January often begin with such high hopes and expectations. We pile the pressure on ourselves as we’re desperate to jog off that second helping of turkey dinner, start a totally new hobby, or make it further in the tennis competition this year.
Despite feeling burnt out from a busy Christmas, “This is the year I’m going to do it” you say to yourself! But before you know it, you are deflated, back on the sofa, nursing your sore limbs from over zealous exercise, and feeling like you’d be better to just give up.
You remember, frustratingly, it takes more than a New Year's resolution to make some permanent changes to your lifestyle.
So, how can you harness that initial enthusiasm for change and keep it going?
Ironically, a great way to start is by sitting down with a pen and paper and asking yourself…
What is my big picture goal?
Identify your reasons for wanting to get fit, start your hobby, or develop in your sport.
Maybe you want to train to reach a specific fitness milestone or boost your energy levels to cope with work and family demands, or there might be an important occasion later on in the year that you’d like to have body-confidence for.
Now, break it down into manageable chunks.
Start by setting smaller, more achievable fitness goals to help you make steady progress toward your big picture goal.
Ensure that what you’re setting yourself aligns with your personal preferences and abilities.
Then, create a routine around these goals, embedding them into your schedule, and forming positive habits. This will help you stay motivated and disciplined.
It sounds quite straightforward forward really, doesn’t it?!
What happens though when…
…the novelty wears off?
It’s perfectly normal to feel a dip in motivation, in fact, it’s something that we have to deal with in most areas of our lives from time to time. Joining group classes, or finding others to hold you accountable can be helpful. Or try out our inhalants to trigger positive emotions and remind yourself of the good feeling you get from achieving your goals!
…it really aches!
When we start something new it can take a while for our bodies to adjust to the new physical demands. So build up your exercise routine slowly and seek out expert advice. Do not underestimate the power of a good warm up and cool down routine either - adding our body oils to this process can help reduce lactic acid build up and reduce inflammation leaving you raring to go!
So get those big picture goals set, commit to your exercise schedule, and be prepared for those negative thoughts and feelings; after all “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor’’.