But, do you know what you’re NOT doing? You aren’t actually getting started… Yup, when it comes to attaining your fitness goals, there are a lot of things that can derail us.
For most of us, we use the excuse that it’s not the right time. Work is really busy, there’s a lot going on with the family, it’s just too cold…or too hot. Or maybe you set your goal on January 1st and have already lost sight of the finish line.
And now, this COVID-19 situation has all of us in a bit of an odd situation. Many of us are stuck working at home for the first time in our lives. But when you take out a daily commute, kids’ soccer practice, and the need to dress for society, many of us are finding ourselves with a little (or a lot of) extra time on our hands.
So yes, NOW is the perfect time to finally get going with your fitness goals. Not only will daily exercise help you, boost your immunity and manage your anxiety in regards to the pandemic, it will also help you look and feel great for the time when we’re finally allowed to go public again.
And before you say it… yes, some of us have children at home. Dealing with homeschooling, work and exercise is certainly a lot.
But, it all comes back to your mindset. Children have recess every day so they can get some fresh air and get their blood pumping. So there’s no reason you can’t incorporate your kids into this exercise plan.
In fact, fitness celebs Chris and Heidi Powell have been posting fantastic full-family workouts you can do in your living room! You could also make things fun by trying our Apex Legends Fitness Challenge.
To get started, we’ve debunked the most common excuses and shared a few tips on how to start and stay on track.
Yes, this may be true…but do you still manage to binge watch that new season of your favorite show on Netflix? If the answer is yes, than maybe your schedule isn’t as jam packed as you think it is.
Not that quality time with your favorite show isn’t its own form of self-care. But maybe you could forego the duration of one episode to get in a cardio session or get some fresh air while going for a run.
You don’t need to be setting aside huge chunks of time to get in a workout. In fact, you can get a great workout in the time you take for lunch during the work day.
At the time of this writing, many states DO allow people to take walks (or runs) around the neighborhood or walk on public paths.
Yes, the gyms are all closed right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t turn your living room or basement into an at-home gym. In fact, we’ve already talked about the risk posed by public gyms. And we’ve also been posting some great at-home exercises you can get started with today.
Best of all, many of the fitness equipment brands we love – like Horizon, NordicTrack, ProForm, and Sole – recognize people’s unique needs and are running special sales, offering financing and free delivery. You could literally get started with a brand new elliptical or treadmill for <$100 this month.
Says who?
This is an excuse that gets used far too often. Everyone sets their New Year’s resolutions with the best intentions on January 1. However, most of us are still in holiday hangover mode.
Whether or not you are actually hungover, the exhaustion and the never ending leftovers are still very much a part of everyday life. You may still be traveling and you definitely aren’t on anything resembling your normal schedule.
This isn’t the most conducive environment for tackling your fitness goals, and the result can leave you disappointed and defeated.
You can start your “fitness New Year” whenever you want! Just because it isn’t January 1 doesn’t mean it doesn’t count. You’ll still be able to see progress and work toward your fitness goals for the duration of a full calendar year.
This also takes some of the pressure off. So many of us decide that January 1st is the day we are going to conquer the world and everything is going to change, but when we haven’t taken the first steps by January 3rd we feel like we’ve already failed.
So, drop that mindset and make TODAY your first day of your new plan.
Silencing your excuses is easier than you think. It comes down to planning. Planning your goals and planning how to reach them. This can be done by following a few simple tricks.
SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Let’s break that down:
Specific – State exactly what you want to accomplish, don’t be vague.
Measurable – Set small mini-goals that you can check off as you accomplish them. You can also do this by breaking down larger goals into smaller “steps”. This keeps large tasks from seeming too daunting. Use one of our recommended apps to track your progress.
Attainable – Make your goals possible to accomplish. If you’ve never run a mile and your goal is to run a marathon in two weeks…you may be setting yourself up for disappointment.
Be honest with yourself about what you want and what you’re capable of, but remember, don’t sell yourself short.
Relevant – Create goals that are meaningful and will impact your life. This can come in the form of a heart healthy diet and exercise plan if you are at risk for heart disease. Your goals should be important to you and have a positive impact on your life.
Time-Bound – Set a time-frame and deadlines that you can strive to meet. As with every step of this process, be realistic. Pick deadlines that are reasonable, this will hold you accountable and keep you motivated along the way. Maybe an initial deadline could be “by the end of the quarantine…”
Motivation is key when working your way toward your fitness goals. You can do this by checking mini-goals off your list and hitting your deadlines.
You can also look outside of yourself for motivation. Join an online Facebook group to stay accountable. Make a pact with your buddies and promise to discuss your progress on a weekly Zoom chat. Sharing your progress with others is powerful. Having others in your corner to help push you when you need it can make a world of difference.
Set your workout for the same time every day. This way you can avoid double-booking or forgetting. If you know that you’re going to be exercising at the same time every day, you don’t have to think about it and it will just be routine.
We know this is easier said than done, but don’t get discouraged. We all miss days or have something come up that disrupts our plans. But it’s not the end of the world, get back on the horse the next day and keep making those strides. Start by checking out some of our Best Buy Ellipticals here.
When it comes to your fitness goals, the date you start doesn’t matter, it just matters that you start. And now is the perfect time to find a silver lining in this quarantine and come out the other side stronger than ever!
