Tips for Sticking With Your 2022 Fitness Goals

It’s that time of year again. With the end of the holidays comes a renewed focus on health and fitness. Many of us have lofty goals going into the new year and are feeling inspired and motivated to meet or exceed those goals. 

Unfortunately, all too often the crowded gyms of early January are empty by mid-February. It’s easy to feel motivated at the start of the year, but it’s much harder to stay motivated and to actually keep up with New Year’s resolutions once you get back into the routine of everyday life. However, it’s not impossible and a few small changes can help to set you up for success. 

Here are a few tips to help you stick with your fitness goals this year, helping to make this your healthiest, most active year yet!

Start Small 

If you want to make major shifts in your fitness, it’s tempting to set lofty goals. While you can keep those big goals in the back of your mind, it’s important to start with smaller, more manageable goals. When planning your fitness goals for the year, aim small and be realistic. For example, set the goal of exercising twice a week for the month of January and then you can adjust that goal upward for February. 

Focus on the first quarter or first month of the year and start small. This is vital for setting you up for long-term success. 

Have a Clear Plan 

Once you’ve got a realistic goal, make a clear plan. Rather than simply saying you want to work out two times per week, be specific about when, where, and how long you’ll work out. For the next few weeks, go ahead and schedule into your routine the days and times that you’ll work out and exactly what you’ll do during each workout. 

A little extra planning will help to make sure that you complete your workouts, helping to build the habits around good fitness planning. 

Create Accountability 

The more that you can share your goals with others, the more likely you are to achieve them. It’s ideal to have a workout partner that you are either meeting up with for workouts or checking in with after you complete workouts. 

If you don’t have this partner or group, you can still find a way to create accountability. Find a family member, co-worker or friend that you can share your fitness goals with. The more you communicate your goals and create some sort of accountability, the more you set yourself up for success. 

Document Your Progress 

One of the hard things about fitness goals is that it can take time to see and feel the results of your hard work. It might take a few months to be able to see physical changes, but that doesn't mean that you’re not making progress. 

To stay motivated, it’s helpful to document the progress that you make. This can be by recording workouts, logging miles, documenting new physical accomplishments, or simply checking off workouts completed. Research has shown that documenting your progress is a proven way to increase the likelihood of completing your goals, so find some way to track your progress from day 1. 

Include Self-Care in Your Plans

When you make fitness goals, don’t forget to include some plans for self-care. Allowing your body to rest and recover will lead to more success in your fitness goals and will improve your overall well-being. 

Self-care days look different for all of us. For some people it’s a rest day, for others it’s a massage or meditation session. You know your body and you know what it needs to stay refreshed and healthy, so adjust your fitness plan to include some self-care days. Adding these to your routine will keep you feeling mentally and physically healthy and will help you stay on track with your fitness goals. 

Have Fun 

Finally, don’t forget to have fun. Your fitness goals should be about your overall health and quality of life. When workouts are fun, you’re more likely to complete them and you get more out of them. 

Obviously, staying fit isn’t always fun, but don’t forget to have as much fun along the way as you can. Maybe this means taking up a new active hobby, joining a fitness class, getting some fun gear, or getting friends together for a weekly bike ride. Get creative and enjoy your journey to fitness!

It’s not easy to stick to New Year’s fitness goals, but when you do you’ll feel healthier and enjoy a sense of accomplishment for sticking with your resolutions. At Crazy Compression, we believe in you and are cheering you on. And, we’re here with all the fun gear you need to stay comfortable and motivated as you crush your goals!