As we are going through the first term of 2022, setting new year's resolutions has become a staple yearly habit for many of us. Amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic and with more and more people prioritising their health and fitness, fitness goals are a favourite addition to the list of new year’s resolutions.
The catch is that many simply engage in the process just for the sake of it or begin to take action towards achieving their goals but quit fast because things are not as easy as they initially thought. And when it comes to yearly fitness goals, achieving them is not as easy as it seems. You have to consider many different factors or you’ll set up yourself for failure.
If you want to achieve your 2022 fitness goals successfully without quitting, here are some tips and tricks that will help:
1. Being specific is the key. A common mistake many people make when setting new fitness goals is noting down generic goals like “I want to become fit” or “Lose some weight”. However, if your goals are too generic and hard to measure, how are you going to be able to track your progress? How will you know if you’ve made any actual progress or not? Instead, you should be as specific with your fitness goals as possible. For instance:
- Lose 10 pounds by the end of February, doing cardio workouts 3X a week and following a detox diet.
- Tone my droopy abs and glutes by hitting the gym 3X a week for an hour and doing toning exercises X and Y at home.
- Join yoga classes in my local studio 2X a week and do small group pilates sessions 1-2X a week to achieve more flexibility by (insert date).
The key here is to set specific and measurable goals and a brief yet clear plan on how to achieve them. Note down the frequency of your fitness sessions and the timeframe you want to get results from your efforts so you can easily track if you’ve made any progress or not.
2. Use smart apps to track your progress. With a massive surge of online fitness apps and smart mobile devices e.g. smart fitness watches, you have plenty of options to track your fitness progress easily.
If you can’t afford to get a smartwatch with key fitness features such as a step counter and calories burnt counter, there are various fitness apps available online that you can use for free or at a very low cost. Once you set up a clear plan to achieve your fitness goals, these apps will help you track your progress in actual numbers. Ideally, you want to look for key features like:
- A step counter and a distance cover counter (if you plan on walking or jogging)
- Timed workout session counter
- Calories burned counter (depending on your chosen workout)
- Heart rhythm displayer
- Food and liquid consumption tracker
- Push/notification system
- Sleep cycle tracker
There are many other secondary features but a basic app or smart device will typically have all the above essentials. The greatest thing about these apps is that they display the metrics in real-time through a user-friendly interface and so you’ll be able to track your progress straight away.
3. Tell others about your goals for support. Sometimes, being alone in your journey towards achieving your goals doesn’t help. It’s better to seek support from others who may also have similar fitness goals or people that are close to you. Inform them about your plans so you can track your progress together and hold yourself accountable for your progress.
Very often, we need a positive push or reminder from others to take action. By letting other people you trust know about your fitness plans, you are more likely to take action as you’ll embarrass yourself if you fail.
But, don’t seek support from people that are lazy, negative or distant from you for obvious reasons.
If for any reason you can’t find close friends or family to support you, seek help from a fitness expert or join an online fitness group where people share similar fitness goals. Members of these groups typically support each other and share their progress through pictures, videos and other materials. It’s like joining like-minded people who want to see you and everyone else achieve their fitness goals. The help and support you’ll get there will keep you going until you finally make it.
4. Take it slow. Another common mistake many people make when setting 2022 fitness goals is that their goals are hard and unrealistic. Celebrities, influencers and so-called fitness “gurus” have contributed to this unfit situation by pushing themselves into extremes and giving others the wrong impression that they can easily follow their example. However, this isn’t always the case. These people are just doing it as a part of their work or simply to show off they’ve made great progress. But, not only are these goals often hard to achieve, but they can also be damaging to your health or figure in the long run.
Everyone is different when it comes to making progress fitness-wise. You have to set some realistic goals and take things slowly at first so you see gradual but long-term and healthy results. Devise a fitness plan that fits your schedule, your preferences, and your natural pace so that you finally get there. And if you are in doubt, seek help from a qualified expert who is capable of generating a custom fitness plan for you, considering all the above criteria. Sure, you can get some inspiration from others but don’t compare yourself to them.
It’s much better to set a plan that you can easily follow at your own pace rather than something everyone else does.
Setting fitness goals for 2022 is certainly not as simple as many think but not that hard either. As long as you consider a few tips and tricks, you’ll be more likely to take action towards materialising your goals. It’s up to you if you want to make any real progress or not…
So what are your fitness goals for 2022 and how do you plan to achieve them? Tells us in the comments down below.