TIP OF THE WEEK

New Year Resolutions

Focus on giving yourself positive self-talk. If you’d made a step further in achieving your goals – congratulate yourself! If you fall down, pull yourself back up and start over again. Remember resolutions are a promise to yourself and not a test of your will power. Avoid temptation and put yourself in more positive surroundings that will help you to achieve your goals. Having reminders in prominent places will help you to keep focused.

Plan ahead

Don't leave it until you're pulling on your shorts in the changing room to start planning your workout. Have a clear idea of what you're going to do before you arrive. It builds anticipation and helps you work harder and more efficiently.  

Stick with it

For most people, what starts off as a new and exciting hobby can seem more like hard work after only a couple of weeks, especially if you don't see instant results. Rest assured, this is normal. You've come this far, so persevere. It usually takes around three months for training to become a habit, and by that time you will start to look and feel better. In the meantime, remind yourself why you're doing it and reward yourself for sticking with it.  

Be smarter

People who set Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic, Time-framed, Exciting and Recorded goals are more likely to succeed than those who simply 'do their best'. You wouldn't go to work and say, 'I'll do as much of my job as I can over the next few months and see what happens.' Don't do it in the gym either. 

Work as a team

Exercise can be social, and it's easier to stay motivated if you have a partner or friend to join you. Even saying hello to the regulars at your gym can make it a friendlier place.  

Do Something

Every little helps, going to the gym three times rather than twice a week is 50 % more, add that to walking around the office a bit more, or walking to the train station for work, will all help your long term goal. If you can't workout three times a week, then set a goal to do it only once or twice, achieve that goal and feel good about it.