5 TIPS TO MAKE THOSE NEW YEAR GOALS LAST
January. Hello, old friend. New members, or re-joiners, or those coming back after time off: it’s been great to welcome you all to the Club in 2023.
A new year is a great opportunity to start as you mean to go on. Maybe you started a new regime for a happier you? Joined the gym? Dry January? Veganuary? Whatever change you are seeking, it’s great to take on new challenges.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS FROM FEBRUARY ONWARDS?
What can curtail all those great intentions from the opening weeks of the year? How do we stay on track and keep that great early momentum going?
This isn’t easy. Maybe life just gets in the way. Maybe an injury or illness sets you back. Maybe you just got bored. All of these are normal and potential spokes in one’s wheel. To get over those humps, it’s best to have a plan of action in place before you and your wheel gets taken out and you are left flat back at square one.
Having something to refer back to is vital when refocusing, so here are my top 5 tips for keeping those resolutions… resolute.
1. KEEP BUILDING THOSE HEALTHY HABITS
Dr. Phillipa Lally, a health psychology researcher from UCL, found during her research that on average it takes 66 days to form a new habit. Therefore, in January your target should be to get through to March. Some marketing whizz will coin a clever phrase for this start to March challenge. STARCH! March to a better you (vomit).. March enemy?
The secret is that reaching one objective is not the end but the end of a beginning. If you stop you will lose the benefits you worked hard for. Health, fitness and wellbeing is not just a goal but a way of life. New goals will need to be set, improvements to be made, hurdles to be overcome. Perfection is an illusion, but little improvements over time all add up.
2. SEEK SUPPORT & REFRESH YOUR GOALS
Perhaps the help of a personal trainer in the gym (I know some good ones), can give you new ideas, refresh your programmes so you beat the dreaded plateau which can be physical as well as mental. Working the same muscles in different ways will activate more fibres and keep you growing. Your inclusive monthly session is a great target to set in your diary to keep you on track. Some of you will take up even more frequent PT. Whatever helps you, go for it!
3. CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY – SIGN UP TO A FITNESS EVENT OR NEW SPORT
Signing up for a fitness challenge or two (ParkRun, Tough Mudder etc) can provide multiple targets over time to keep you engaged. Maybe try a new class or sport like tennis or swimming, variety is the spice of cliches. Get yourself out of your comfort zone it can improve your capabilities. You might discover something you grow to love or will have a great story to moan to your friends about. Ultimately, if you can find something you enjoy you are more likely to redo it.
4. SMALL LIFESTYLE CHANGES – THE LITTLE WINS!
Throughout your daily routine you can improve your lifestyle too, extra walking or just more time outdoors than before will make you feel better. It does not have to be big events you are aiming for, just getting more visits to your dear health club will up the quality of life physically, mentally and socially. Write your goals down and you can refer back to them when times are tough and use our team here to get you stronger.
5. WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU
The Hogarth team is here to help you navigate your health and fitness journey not just from A to B but to C,D, E and beyond! We will help you set realistic goals, getting your bespoke wheels in motion and give you the tools to overcome anything that might be a barrier.
Aim to get through January, keep going until March and then onto the summer. Just imagine what a win it would be if we could catch up in December and look back over all the things you achieved in the past 12 months. It would make all the celebrating over next Christmas even sweeter.
I hope for everyone this year is the greatest 23 since Michael Jordan. Lets go get those wins people.
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