Why waiting until January 1st to make your goals and follow through isn’t necessarily the best idea! Who else has been there? The first of January comes around and you start making your resolutions.
Cue the frequent flyers…
I’m going to lose weight…
I’m going to hit the gym 4 days a week…
I’m going to meditate daily…
I’m going to get more sleep…
I’m going to drink more water…
I’m going to, I’m going to, I’m going to…
Going to, huh? Doesn’t that get exhausting? I know it did for me. Setting all these goals at the same time, hoping I’d have enough motivation to get me through, but having no momentum to keep it going. Usually falling off the wagon in the first couple months.
Whenever you set and start goals, you’re always super excited and motivated at the beginning, but by the time February comes along, your excitement and motivation starts dying down. By March you are completely off your game and start falling back into your old habits. Motivation doesn’t last, you need to dig deeper and find your why behind your goals. Attach emotion to them and create habits that are long-lasting and realistic.
What’s the point of having amazing goals without intentions? Do you keep falling into that continuous cycle of disappointment? Guess what? You can just prepare ahead of time and set yourself up for success!! And yes, I mean starting today before the holidays and not after…
I bet your thinking, “yeah right, before the holidays Krista”. Yes girl!
They are approaching quickly and it’s time to make some changes so you’re prepared to conquer the stress of endless social events and food galore. With this time of year, lots of excitement and joy are present, but stress, weird family dynamics, and lots of delicious food also come into play. If you are a huge foodie like me, you love to eat, especially when it comes to my grandma’s homemade apple pie.
Ummm “yum”! Had to post a pic of an apple pie, just a little nostalgic
Unfortunately, there’s a line between balance and overindulging. If your anything like me, you usually don’t realize how much you’re eating until it’s too late and your laying on the coach, bloated, tired, and full until the following holiday. So I thought this year we should start a new movement and instead of waiting on the new year to make your fitness goals a reality, let’s get right to it! YES!! Today is the day to start making magic and living up to the goals you set for yourself.
In order to be successful, you need to create habits, have discipline, and completely understand your why behind your goals. Forming habits takes a little time, hence why you should start before the holidays.
Okay, okay enough rambling! Here are some of the reasons I think you should start your fitness journey now, rather than later…
1.) Less Work, Quicker Results
What do I mean by that?
When you wait to set your goals and get started in January, you are giving yourself a free pass, permission to eat, eat, and eat some more. No rules or restrictions. In reality, you end up overdoing it because hey, you aren’t starting until after the holidays, so why not eat all the cookies life has to offer. You have it in your mind, that it’s your last hoorah before you have to “diet” and follow a strict routine.
Which FYI, no restriction and deprivation is necessary to reach your weight loss goals.
During the holidays, when you eat a little too much, you start packing on those extra pounds. It could be a couple or it could be a little more than a couple, but it’s so defeating afterward and it makes it harder to get motivated. I’ve been guilty of the post holiday weight gain.
If you start building healthy habits beforehand, you minimize or avoid unhealthy choices. You can strategize and create a plan, so you’re organized, more aware, and in control of your decisions. Plus, when the new year rolls around, you’re already a step ahead and can follow through without the temptations of the holidays.
2.) Good ol’ Procrastination
Are you familiar?
Haha my middle name is procrastination.
Can you relate?
When you put off starting your goals until after the new year or the following Monday, you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Giving yourself excuses to put off your goals, makes it much more difficult to begin them, let alone accomplish them. Usually resolutions are postponed because you don’t feel equipped to handle the situation and feel that you will be more emotionally prepared in the future, which is just not the case.
Procrastination also adds extra stress to your life and who wants that, right? You continuously think about having to do this and that, which ends up becoming a chore rather than a pleasant experience. And let me tell you, weight loss should be a positive experience. There will always be hard times, but you are now taking the time to develop discipline and create habits that will allow you to succeed.
3.) You Get A Head Start
Think about the how positive the outcome will be. You start developing habits, one at a time, that you can stick to and replace the old. You know it only takes about 21 days to create a habit.
Only 21 Days!!
So let’s say you want to add more water into your routine. Slowly start drinking 1, then 2, then 3 glasses a day. Stick to that one new routine for 21 days, then focus on another. By the time you know it, January 1st comes along and you’ve already been working on making those old unhealthy habits, new and improved. You’ve already added water into your daily routine and now you’re exercising at least 3 days a week. All because you got a head start.
You are now better prepared to stick with your goals heading into the holidays. You are more aware of healthier choices and don’t have to overdo it because you are creating a lifestyle for yourself. You’re not trying to do everything at once, but breaking your goals down and working on them one day at a time.
4.) Less Stress Always Improves Your Mood
Holidays = stress
Admit it, as much as we try to have everything together during the holidays, stressful situations always come about. Stress can equate to feeling down and being overwhelmed. You feel like you can’t completely let go and enjoy yourself this time of year because there is always something to do. Constant chaos takes away your “me” time.
Well think about this! Try being active at least a little everyday. Exercise increases the feel good hormones in your brain. Being active destresses you and allows you to release all of that extra tension. Whether it’s a class, a walk, a good lifting session, it all helps your brain and body feel good.
5.) It Should Be All About You
I feel like when New Years comes around it starts the trend of everyone needing to make resolutions to start the year off on the right foot. Multiple goals, lots of pressure to succeed, and endless bouts of frustration and disappointment. It’s like, let’s lose weight because everyone else is doing it, but it’s not a personalized goal that you can stick to. It’s following what others are doing because hey, that’s what we’re “suppose to do” when it comes to the beginning of a new year.
This year let’s try diving deep and really focusing on ourselves. What do you really want? How are you going to make it happen?How will it make you feel? Set goals because YOU want and need to, not because everyone else is doing the same. Lose weight for you, workout for you, create new habits for you. It’s okay to focus on you. I know you want to create lasting results, so let’s get you there!
Until next time,
xoxo Krista
