New Year, Same You?

Are you excited about the new year? Of course, you are. January is the best time to start fresh. Society collectively turns a corner, puts the past behind them, and works toward improving; now, you can kick that pop drinking habit to the curb and hit Planet Fitness five times a week. New year, new you. 2023 is the ticket!

Is this cliche? Absolutely. Is it going to ring true for you? I’m not sure.

Based on previous polling data and research, approximately 50% of people will meet their fitness goals in 2023. Looking further into the future, around 20% of people will maintain those goals at the two-year mark. (1)(2)

50% odds aren’t bad, but it’s a crapshoot whether or not you’ll be a part of the 50% that is successful. And it’s even more of a challenge to predict if you’ll be a part of the super successful 20% two years from now.

So, what should you do?

Sometimes, picking a goal and getting started is all it takes.

As they say, the first step is the biggest, but I’m unsure whether YOU will fall into the successful 50%. What I do know is this:

Getting started, despite how terrible you might be at a given task/habit/goal, is the only way to get better.

You might think, “Wow, Brian, enlightening stuff here,” but hear me out.

In my experience, people think about what they want to accomplish for far too long. They spend most of their time contemplating if their investment is worth it or if they have the time, energy, and willpower to pursue it.

In essence, people shoot themselves in the foot before they even start, casting doubt on their abilities to change.

So, before you begin your downward spiral of self-doubt, remember this phrase:

What you think and believe you can achieve.

It’s simple but true. If you want this year to be different, then you better start thinking about how it will be different and what you will do to make it so.

But therein lies another big obstacle for most people: what should you do?

Chances are, you know moving more and eating better is essential to see physical changes in your body. However, navigating a clear path toward progress can be confusing and cumbersome.

Maybe you subscribe to a newsletter from a place that shares wholesome, healthful (and yummy!) recipes.

Perhaps you start counting calories on MyFitnessPal.

Maybe you start on a walking plan or cardio routine at your local gym.

I’m not sure what you should do, but I know the possibilities are endless, and that’s tough for most people.

Change is personal. Embrace your individuality.

I bet success stories surround you. You probably have a coworker that lost 50 pounds by eating nothing but meat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

You probably know a guy who underwent a substantial physical transformation by doing nothing but Crossfit.

And all of that is great, and you should cheer those people on. However, you need to recognize what worked for everyone else might not work for you.

Heck, you probably tried following someone else’s approach already, and where did it get you?

Is what you’ve done in the past or what you’re doing now actually working?

If you run in circles year after year with nothing to show for it, you need a new approach.

Start by thinking about what you want out of 2023. What do you want to be different, and what do you think it will take to improve it?

Believe that you can be better, that you can improve.

At Motive Training, we specialize in helping people understand what makes them unique to help them move the needle toward their goals. So, if you’ve been spinning your wheels year after year, or you want to learn what will help you change from the inside out, reach out.

We’re here to make this year better than the last.

References

1. The resolution solution: longitudinal examination of New Year’s change attempts
2. A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals

Written by:

Motive Training Staff

Does stretching work? We don’t just believe so; we know so. Reach out to us using any of the contact formson the Motive Training website, and we’ll take care of you.

We’ll teach you both how to move with purpose so you can lead a healthy, strong, and pain-free life. We’re available online or in Grand Rapids, MI, and Austin, TX. We’re in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids, MI, and the St. Elmo district in South Austin, TX.