Editor’s note: The Times Herald invited personal trainer Julie Borchert, owner of Just Be Fit LLC, of Stiles, to share her suggestions relating to keeping New Year’s resolutions. Here’s her response.
The No. 1 New Year’s resolution every year is to lose weight or exercise more. I am not a huge fan of setting New Year’s resolutions because I believe in setting goals for myself several times a year. The reason I do this is because it keeps me on track and helps me stay motivated year round.
Below I am sharing my three tips that I use personally to help me stay fit, healthy and, most of all, stay on track with my goals throughout the entire year.
1. Visualization. Every morning, or at another time that works best for you, sit quietly for two minutes with your eyes closed, hands in your lap and visualize the goals you have set in place for yourself.
Do you have a health-related goal? Visualize what you will feel like in that fit body or skinny jeans or little black dress, etc.
Do you have a work-related goal? Visualize what it will feel like to get that new promotion at work or visualize what it will feel like “nailing” that speech you’ve been working on.
Visualizing your goals keeps them in the forefront of your mind.
2. Write down your goals. Statistics show that people who write down their goals are 50 percent more likely to reach their goals than those who don’t write them down.
Write your goals on paper or type them up in bold letters and hang them on your refrigerator or kitchen cabinet doors. If you have a date in mind, use your calendar as a countdown, and each week you mark off how much closer you are. Use notes and stick them in places that will be a constant reminder for you. Take lipstick and write it on your mirror! Get creative and let others know what your goals are.
3. Ditch the all or nothing mentality! The biggest mistake I see people make is that they feel they need to be 100 percent perfect all the time. You need to remember that setting goals and sticking to them is a journey, and it is so important to learn to enjoy the journey along the way. If you don’t, you will want to give up and quit everything you just started working toward.
Keep healthy habits within your day every day, and you will still be further ahead than you were a year ago.
If you follow these three simple steps, you will be more successful this year. The reason I know this is because I use them personally every day to help me reach my goals and they work! So why not give them a try?
Just Be Fit has an amazing group of supportive people who are ready to help you tackle your goals and achieve a healthy lifestyle. For more articles, posts and workouts, visit Just Be Fit on Facebook.
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