The most important month for your New Year goals? December.
If your goals for the new year include fitness, I highly encourage you to start before the new year arrives.
I know the holiday schedule can be overwhelming. There are presents to purchase, cookies to bake, family to visit, and end of year holiday parties at work and school. It may feel like there is just not enough time to do any meaningful action towards your goal. I hear you. I get it.
But.
You knew there would be a but.
If you use the last weeks of the year to action even 10% of your goals, you’ll be in a significantly better place Jan 1.
What does 10% look like?
If your goal is to join a gym…
Visit the gym you are considering, and ask for a tour. That’s it. No sweat, no exercise yet. Just get a visual for the space, what equipment is available and where it is located.
Try to schedule the tour for when you’d likely be going to the gym to understand how busy it might be. (If you cannot get a tour during that time, ask the employee giving the tour about their busy times.) Observe the culture. Can you shower there if needed? What is the parking like? How was the commute?
If your goal is to strength train at home…
Consider which program you will be using and what equipment you may need to purchase. Keep in mind that you may progress quickly at first (a phenomenon called newbie gains!) so a variety of weights may be necessary. Or adjustable weights may be a great option.
Don’t let cost deter you. Many types of equipment can be found second hand on resale sites. Start building your inventory before you need it.
If your goal is to train for an event…
Again- our goal is to prepare ourselves for our new year routine. Think about when and where you will train for this event. Will you need warm clothing for the outdoors? New footwear? Hydration vests or bottles?
What time will you train? If it will be dark, you will need some high visibility gear.
And finally, consider your back up plan in case of inclement weather. Can you attend a cycling class if your goal is a peloton, for example?
If your goal is nutrition based…
Consider whether you’ll meet with a nutritionist. If yes, try to schedule the consultation now. You might be surprised how far out they are currently scheduling new clients.
If doing independently, perhaps ask a friend or family member to be an accountability partner. Think about what your goals may be and take steps to action on just one of them during the holidays. Increasing protein may be a fairly easy target, for example, with the variety of foods available at gatherings.
Whatever the goal may be, use the last few weeks of the year to put yourself in the best position to begin working on it January 1st. Bonus… if your goal requires new equipment, clothing, or memberships, you can put them on your holiday gift list-or take advantage of post holiday sales! 😁
Make your mission at the end of the year to remove obstacles and increase your opportunities for success. Most importantly get excited about your plan. You are going to do great!