Spring Back Into Shape

Article by Kristen Kaiser, Assistant Marketing Manager

Would you believe that spring has finally arrived? Personally, I never thought the winter months would come to an end. As the warm weather creeps in, I have started to realize that I have not stuck to any of my New Year’s resolutions. I had read that roughly 80% of people give up on their resolutions within the first six weeks of the new year. If that is you, it’s okay! Even if you had not thought about your New Year’s resolutions in some time, don’t call it quits just yet. Now is the time to rethink those resolutions.

The spring season represents rebirth, renewal, and growth. It’s time to get off the couch, reset some goals and get back into the swing of things! Let’s get the spring season started on a healthy foot with these tips:

Mentally Prepare for Change

Change is never easy because of the habits that are ingrained in us. It’s important to take a step back and prepare for that change. Take a personal inventory and ask yourself: What did I set out to do in the past year? What did I accomplish? Where did I make progress? What can I do better in the future?

It’s important to stay positive and to not make big changes too quickly.

Set Realistic Goals

Chances are, you are going to need to start slowly as you get back into a new routine. Start by committing to exercise two to three times per week. This way, you can make exercise a priority, and once you’ve established a routine, you can increase the number of exercise days. You also need to be realistic about the results you expect to see.

Be Specific

When it comes to setting resolutions, you need to think about SMART goals. What are SMART goals?

• Specific – Be as clear as possible about your goal.
• Measurable – Make a specific goal, such as “I will lose 10% of my body weight” or “I will lose 10 pounds.”
• Attainable – Choose a goal that is challenging, yet possible to achieve.
• Relevant – Keep our goals relevant to your priorities.
• Time-sensitive – Give yourself a timeframe to achieve a goal. A deadline will instill urgency.

Write Down Your Goals

Writing down your goals and resolutions will help to clarify what it is you want to achieve. It forces you to make decisions and be accountable to your goal and resolution. Written goals can also act as a filter for what opportunities to pursue, how to move forward, and what actions you can take. Written goals are a reminder of how far you have come and what you have achieved.

Share Your Resolutions with Others

While writing down a resolution or goal is a great way to stay on track, it may be beneficial to share those goals with a friend or family member. If the goal is to exercise more, perhaps brainstorm with your family or friends about how to be more active together. Every Sunday, my family tries to do something active, whether it’s a game of Ultimate Frisbee in the park or a dance party at home; this is one of the ways in which we’ve committed to becoming more active. Having a workout buddy or someone who can encourage you to exercise more is a great help, especially when you are in a rut.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

If you fall off track, try to self-correct as soon as you can. Getting back into a routine is not easy, and it will take time for your resolution to become a reality. The worst thing you can do is beat yourself up about missing a day at the gym or falling off schedule. Be flexible and cut yourself some slack. Pick yourself up and try to make it to the gym the next day or the next time that you can.

Use this spring season to recommit to your goals, to motivate yourself, and to grow. Keep the commitments you made to yourself. It takes time to develop a habit, but it is possible if you do it one day at a time. Focus on your goals or resolutions and every day make one choice that is better for you.