5 Tips to Start a Fitness Routine in the New Year

There’s something about the New Year that encourages us all to think about our habits, routines and hobbies.

It’s a great chance to reflect. You can think about where you are – and where you want to be. I like to choose a word for my year to give me focus, but you might prefer traditional New Year’s resolutions.

Some people want to avoid alcohol for a month, some people plan to stop smoking, and many people pledge to start a new fitness routine…

5 tips to start a fitness routine in the New Year

If you fancy creating a fitness routine for the New Year, I can help! A few years ago, I started going to the gym. It started with weekly swims and ad-hoc gym sessions. Now, I try to work out three times a week.

It’s nothing too intense – just a few sessions to help me feel happy, healthy and fit. It started as a way to improve my mental health and get out of the house. However, since then, it has helped me grow my confidence and learn how to actually enjoy getting fit!

So, let’s take a look at how to start a new fitness routine for the New Year. How can you stick to your New Year fitness goals?

1. Be consistent

Consistency is important for anything in life – growing your savings, building a business and keeping up with a fitness routine.

If you want to start a new exercise routine in the New Year, think about how you can actually stick to your goals. What has stopped you from being consistent in the past?

Consistency isn’t about going to the gym every day. It’s about learning how to adjust your habits to fit your schedule. This might mean not organising social events on your regular gym days, or moving your exercise sessions around so that you don’t have to skip them.

2. Choose a fitness routine that works for you

This New Year, create a simple fitness routine that actually works for you. I see so many people rush to create a complex routine for January… only to give up on it by February.

So, create a fitness routine that’s easy to accomplish. It all comes back to consistency. It’s better to go to the gym once a week than never.

Take time to create a routine that works alongside your other responsibilities. If you can only go to the gym once a week, go to the gym once a week. If you have a busy job, go at the weekend.

How can you make the most of the time you actually have? This is a great starting point for creating a routine that works for you.

3. Get the gear

Before starting your New Year fitness routine, you’ll need a few key pieces of gear. If you go to the gym, you’ll need gym clothes, a water bottle and headphones. If you play a group sport, your gear might be more extensive.

Crucially, you need clothes that make you feel good. If you feel uncomfortable or insecure, you’re less likely to stick to your exercise routine. So, buy the gear you need to feel good.

Get a gym membership, subscribe to a class and order some new gym clothes. It’s not about spending a lot of money. It’s about picking up the things you need to get started. Then, you’ve got no excuses!

4. Get creative

I think we hear “fitness routine” and we automatically think of going to the gym every night. But a routine can be anything you want it to be – and so can exercise.

Here are some fun ideas for your New Year fitness routine:

• Pilates or yoga
• A group sport like netball, basketball, football or hockey
• Hiking in the countryside
• Swimming or water sports

Try out classes, exercise with friends or explore new outdoor spaces. You can learn something new or go back to an activity you loved as a kid. There’s so much to try out!

5. Seek advice

If you want to start a fitness routine in the New Year, seek advice from friends, family and fitness professionals. You could work with a PT if you have specific exercise goals, or you could go to the gym for the first time with a friend.

Work out with a friend to help you stick to your routine. You can enjoy your session, stay accountable and feel motivated to keep going.

When I first started working out, I asked my boyfriend to put together a basic routine for me. This was a good basis for my workout sessions – and I felt more confident walking into the gym for the first time.

Do you have any tips for starting a fitness routine in the New Year? What are your goals for the New Year? What is your favourite exercise activity?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x