How to stick to your health resolutions this new year?

It’s officially 2018 – a new year with new beginnings. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy new year, first of all. While it’s true that you don’t need a new year to start something new, it’s always a good time to make a resolution and start something new, don’t you think? A hobby, healthy eating, some career ambition, strength training, weight loss, weight gain – whatever that is.

As important as it is to frame a career goal, it is even more important to make a change towards healthy living – be in mental or physical. We are at an age where lifestyle changes lead to multiple chronic diseases which can be prevented and controlled as well. So, whether you are trying to eat healthy to stay fit/maintain your health or to gain/lose weight, now is the time to start. But don’t leave it there. The key is to maintain and pursue your goals relentlessly. We ‘ll tell you how:

Set realistic goals

Now that you want to take a good step towards healthy living, frame goals that is SMART – Smart, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. As cliche as it sounds, this will help you be less stressed in life. If your goal is to become fit, define it – Ex: ‘I’d like to lose 10 kgs and build stamina in 10 months. I’d commit to running and strength training for 4 days a week’. Set a goal as per your work schedule and time left for it and be realistic.

Prioritize &reward – after all, we’re human

So yes, I hear you – you want to start cardio training, balance work life, take a different course for your career move and you also want to spend time with your family. While all this is required, take it one step at a time. Finish your course by March, go on a vacation and spend some quality time, reward yourself for finishing one goal you’d set.

To err is human – get back on track

We all have setbacks. Just because you have missed your gym sessions for the past one month doesn’t mean you wallow in guilt and miss the next few. Break that routine – just think of it as one day. Get back on track one day at a time. If you can’t run a km at a time, that is okay too – start slow walking, fast walking, combine jogging and walking and then start running. The world isn’t ending tomorrow.

Research

While yoga is great and you’ve seen your friends achieve success through it doesn’t mean it is right for you. Figure out what your body likes – try our different forms through Youtube tutorials – see what your heart enjoys doing. If you take up running with no passion, you will give up in a month. Take baby steps – try out multiple ways and research. Read up on calorie counts, macros – to know what you’re doing and not just do because everyone does it.

Find a good fitness partner

There’s nothing that motivates better than a partner who has the same goal as you. Find someone who’s motivated enough to achieve the same goal as yours and motivate each other. It may be your spouse/friend/an acquaintance at the club/colleague – it doesn’t matter. Just make sure you motivate each other constantly and the chances of you failing are less likely.

Invest in your goal

If you can afford it, get a coach who will train and guide you, buy a fitness tracker that will remind you where you are. Agreed, these are not mandatory – but if it can motivate you, it a good investment. If you already have a blood pressure condition, get medical help to choose the best workout, get a BP Monitor to keep things in check – it is always wiser to prevent that react.

Combine fun factors

While it is good to focus on physical fitness, combine your goals with taking up something new – a hobby or focusing on a passion of yours. Take up a new sport/ pursue one you left in high school /dance once a week, if that is something you like. Join a baking class/martial arts class to see if you like it. Start learning an instrument and try your hand at it. Meditate once a day for 10 minutes. The more you give your brain fuel, the more it makes your body work.

Get old school – keep motivational posters

Yes, not as a smartphone wallpaper, but at your home – find people who motivate you and have their quotes around – just when you feel like giving up, it will remind you why you started. If you’re into social media, follow accounts of experts/influencers in Instagram and twitter. Photos tend to have a higher attention quotient.

All said and done, every time you feel like giving up, remember why you started and why it was important in the first place. Life is short and now is a good time to start. Go on and make yours today.