5 Easy Ways To Make Fitness More Sustainable
According to the New York Post, a study conducted by the University of Scranton found that 80% of people fail to keep any New Year's resolutions. As you may have guessed, many of those resolutions are related to fitness, and you may be able to relate to this statistic if you have tried setting fitness-related resolutions yourself.
Of course, you don't have to wait until New Year's Eve to start a new fitness regime. There are ways to make tackling a fitness goal or challenge more sustainable. Here are five easy ways to help you get to where you want in relation to your health and fitness:
1. Sustainable fitness begins with finding your method
One person's pleasure is another person's poison — you need to be realistic when you set your sustainable fitness goals for yourself. There are many different ways to achieve general fitness, and you should decide what type of regime is going to be enjoyable for you. For example, if you hate the idea of long-distance running, don't set out to train for a marathon. Or perhaps you find lifting weights more enjoyable than swimming lengths in a pool.
This approach will make it easier for you to continue — especially on those days when you're not feeling it. If you don't enjoy what you're doing, it'll be a lot harder for you to stay consistent and are more likely to become yet another statistic. Likewise, if you have any physical limitations, take this into account at the outset. Set achievable goals based on those limitations.
2. Don't overdo it if you want to keep going
When you start working out for the first time, remember to keep within your limits. After all, the best exercise sessions are those you walk away from feeling energised and ready to take on the world. If you've overdone it and feel exhausted, not only will it take you longer to recover, but you will also wonder why you're doing this in the first place. This feeling can lead to you wanting to start to skip sessions, which affects your overall progress. Remember that you don’t need to be aching in pain or excessively sweating to have smashed out a successful workout.
3. Be ready to make adjustments if necessary
Even when you keep within your limits, there will always be certain days that feel harder than others. Perhaps you’ve been overdoing it at work or are dealing with a cold, whatever the reason, be willing to adjust your fitness schedule as and when needed. If you need to miss a workout, it’s alright — it’s normal and nothing to be upset about.
It’s essential to listen to our body when we feel rough, as not resting can end up causing more damage and extending our recovery period. Your body needs rest as much as it needs to be pushed when exercising.
Instead, consider stretching or yoga, or work with other recovery tools until you feel better. But if you do miss a session, remember that it was for a good reason. Don't beat yourself up, as you're not turning your back on those sustainable fitness goals. You're simply making a short-term adjustment to deal with life’s challenges and setbacks.
4. Lining up your schedule
Make sure that your daily schedule matches your aspirations and fitness goals. Many people overwork when it's not necessary. As a result, they may not get enough rest and relaxation. Ensure you get adequate sleep if you want to sustain your fitness routine.
There's no magic number here, but getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night is advised. Just ensure you’re getting good-quality sleep and make every effort to adjust your schedule so that it's fair and balanced, and you will be more likely to see it through. At the end of the day, it’s a lifestyle change that may cause you to prioritise your fitness over certain things in your life.
5. Two is always better than one
See if you can align your fitness goals with somebody else. Ideally, this would be a close friend or another family member, but it could also be someone you socially meet, whether that’s online or at the gym. Ask them if they will become your accountability partner and vice versa. But do be careful to choose the right person. In an ideal world, they will be highly motivated, just like you, and not likely to change their mind.
Assuming you’ve chosen well, you can then motivate them as they help to push you towards your sustainable fitness goals. Not only will this help you push through even on those low-energy days, but you’re also less likely to skip a workout session if your fitness buddy has called you up. Even better, if you have sustainable fitness equipment at home, your new gym partner can also share this facility with you.
Be SMART
Now that you have five strong tips to make your fitness more sustainable, ensure you track everything. Set your goals according to the SMART acronym, so they are always specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely. This will help you track your progress on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and see that you're hitting those targets as you go. Setting SMART goals means you’re more likely to sustain your goals and progress in time for the next New Year’s celebration.
Sustainable fitness equipment
Set up a home gym to stand the best chance of success, especially if the weather is often an excuse you use for skipping exercise sessions. If you’re looking to purchase sustainable fitness equipment that will help make your fitness journey a lot easier, then get in touch with Gym and Fitness today. For a complete home gym setup, have a look at our strength training or recovery equipment and easily order what you need online.