As the weather turns colder, you may feel your energy levels dropping with the temperature. This causes many people to abandon their workout routines until New Year’s Resolutions come around in January. Don’t be one to let things slip at the end of the year. Practice the following tips to keep your health on track through the remainder of 2015.
Set a new goal. The ‘lose 10 lbs to look good in my swimsuit this summer’ goal is now expired, so it’s time to get creative again. Maybe you’d like to run a 5K with a co-worker or you’ve always wanted to try kickboxing. Now is a great time to set a goal that forces you to try something different – something that challenges you mentally as well as physically. Forget about the pressure of trying to reach a certain weight or pant size and instead, take up a new activity.
Re-evaluate your diet. Just as fresh food options change with the seasons, your diet should never be the same year round. Getting tired of the same old foods day after day? Now is a great time to introduce some new foods into your diet. Get creative and find ways to make the meals of the holiday season fun and healthy.
Keep a journal. Numerous studies show that keeping a food or exercise journal supports positive changes. Sometimes we don’t realize what we eat until we write it down or we’re just too embarrassed to write down some of the things we do eat. As far as exercise, how can you progress if you can’t remember your workouts from last week? Keeping track of all this keeps you moving in the right direction.
Get a friend involved. It feels great to inspire someone to lead a healthier lifestyle, but the unexpected outcome is that while you’re inspiring others, they are inspiring you as well. Support and accountability from those closest to you is a great way to build your relationship while keeping each other on track. Getting a friend involved in that 5K or new exercise routine will be helping you as much as it helps them.
Have fun with it. If exercise seems like a chore, it won’t take long for you to make excuses on why you don’t have time for it. If you hate doing traditional cardio on the treadmill, get into a sports league or join a martial arts class. Exercise should be an enjoyable part of our lives, not something we feel like we have to do. Active people understand that exercise is just part of their lifestyle and they make it as enjoyable as possible.
So while others are making excuses on why they can’t exercise as the year winds down, don’t lose sight of how important a consistent routine is for your body and mind.
