It’s time to make your New Year’s Resolution. About 80% of New Year’s Resolutions will be health-related as people vow to eat better, lose weight, and head to the gym more. Only about 8% of those people will actually succeed at their resolution, but don’t let those numbers get you down. You could be part of the 8% who succeed by making your work out a habit. When you get into the habit of working out, it will feel strange not to hit the gym or get your run in. That’s where you want to be mentally if you want to hit your goals for 2018. But how do you turn working out into a daily habit?
Do it at the same time every day.
Establishing a routine will make it easier to make working out a habit. Figure out where you are fitting your work out into your day and then stick with it. Whether that’s the first thing in the morning, at lunchtime, or after the kids go to bed, keep doing it at that time every day.
Track it on a calendar.
It takes at least 30 days to create a habit. Marking the days on a calendar with a big red ‘x’ can be both satisfying and motivating. Once you’ve filled up a full calendar with work out days, you can flip the page and head to the next one. The visual reminder will help you see that you are actually making progress.
Make it easy for yourself.
The easier it is to work out, the more likely you are to do it. So set yourself up for success. Lay out your gym clothes, keep your gym bag in the car, and join a gym that you actually like to go to. Whatever you have to do to make it easier on yourself, do it.
Don’t take a cheat day.
It’s tempting in the beginning to take a cheat day. You might think that since you’ve gone for five days or a week straight that you deserve a day off. Resist the temptation! It’s best not to skip any days when you are first starting out; you don’t want the skipped days to become a habit, after all, instead of the days you spend at the gym.
Be accountable to someone.
Being accountable to someone for the time you spend working out will motivate you to get it done. This could be your spouse, a friend who also wants to work out more, or a personal trainer. When you know that someone is going to ask you whether or not you went to the gym, you’ll be more inclined to do so.
Ready to make 2022 the year you took charge of your fitness and health? Crooked River Crossfit is here to help! We want to help you make working out a habit and fitness a lifestyle. Stop by our gym for a tour and to learn more about our facility or sign up for a free intro session right now on our website! We look forward to seeing you at our Mayfield gym soon.