Gina Jackson Personal Fitness

If you haven’t figured it out yet, here are five tips you might want to consider to get off on the right foot for the coming year.

With the holiday season in full swing, many of us start thinking about the New Year and what our resolutions should be. How can we accomplish more, have more time for ourselves and get in better shape in the New Year? How can we make a plan that we will stick to and not go back to our old ways in a few weeks? Here are some tips for making great resolutions that you can keep!

• Write out your resolutions and share them with someone who will hold you accountableWhether this is your spouse, a friend, a sibling, coach or a co-worker, make someone or several people aware of your resolutions. If you share them with others you will be less likely to back out of them.

• Make reasonable goalsKeep your resolutions simple and keep it to just a few. Don’t make a list of everything that you want to accomplish in the New Year or you will feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to start; which means often you won’t start at all.Use this as a time to list the top 5 things that you really want to work on and really focus in on them.

• Form a team with others who have similar resolutionsIf you find other co-workers, Mom’s or fitness enthusiasts who share similar goals for the New Year, team up with them to make sure you stick to your goals. Having a partner to talk to, workout with or just debrief with at the end of each week will help you stay on track.

• Join a gym, hire a trainer or join an online fitness website…and pay up frontAny time you part with some cold hard cash, you are going to be more likely to use the service for which you invested. If you pay for a personal trainer, gym membership, or online training service in advance, you will most likely make the effort to get your money’s worth out of the service.

• Think long termMany people tend to just think in the short term, like I want to lose 10 pounds by a certain date. Instead, think of some longer term fitness goals as well. Maybe you want to run a 5k, compete in a triathlon, or maybe you just have a goal to make it to the gym 3 times a week for at least 6 months.Thinking longer term will give you something to shoot for after the New Year’s resolution rush is over!