Well, we’ve made it through the first week of the year. How are you doing with your New Year’s goals and resolutions? I still haven’t set any concrete goals, but I have been thinking about how to get my year off to a healthy start, so I thought I’d share my top five healthy New Year tips.
1. Set SMART goals. I know I just said that I haven’t set any concrete goals for the New Year, but I do have general goals of eating more healthfully, training for the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler, and adding more life to my work-life balance. To make these “SMART” goals I need to make them specific, measurable, attainable, result-oriented and time-limited, but that’s where I usually fall short–and probably why I chase the same goals year after year–especially that work-life balance one!
2. Track your progress. Once you set SMART goals, keeping track of your progress towards achieving those specific, measurable, attainable, time-limited results, will help you stay on the path to success! For my fitness goals, I don’t do well with remembering to log my workouts–once I’ve shared my Fitsnapp photo on Instagram I rarely look back 😉 –but I know that keeping a record of my workouts can provide useful information when I’m training for a race, or deciding how best to train for my next race.
I don’t need another GPS-based app to track my runs, but when I found out that the RunKeeper app is useful for just logging your workouts, I decided to give it a try. We’ll see if I can keep it current through my spring race season!
3. Keep a health journal. This is another tip I am better at preaching than practicing, but I do believe that keeping a health journal can help you reach your goals. With a journal, you can plan for success, troubleshoot where you strayed from your plan, and identify patterns and stumbling blocks that impeded your progress.
4. Try new healthy recipes. When I get bored with my repertoire of recipes, I am more likely to be tempted to get take-out or order pizza, but when I have a new cookbook full of new healthy recipes, I am inspired to eat more healthfully at home. I am still working through the recipes I flagged in the Runner’s World Meals on the Run Cookbook that I was sent to review.
You can get your own copy through my Amazon affiliate link here
5. Build a support system. You may not want to tell everyone you know that you have set a goal to lose weight or train for a 5K, but you are more likely to reach your goal if you have the support and encouragement of friends and family. To start small, ask a friend to join you for a walk instead of a coffee date (better yet, get your coffees to go!) or have your kids help you select a new recipe to try and then let them rate it. If that won’t work, you can always find support on Twitter or Instagram (#runchat, #fitfluential, and #sweatpink are great places to start), or in the blogosphere!
[Tweet “Five Steps To A Healthy New Year #Fitness #Motivation”]
What are your top healthy new year tips?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I’ve started journaling SO many times yet the habit has never stuck. So many cute journals out there too. My tip is to not go too big and get overwhelmed but rather to focus on process goals and make one small change at a time.
I am the same way with journals. Your tip is an excellent one!
These are right on! I think the support system one is so important and often overlooked. People try and go at it alone, but having people to cheer you on and who understand what you’re trying to do and why is so awesome!
Yes, or at least having people who don’t unwittingly try to undermine you!
Her health journal is such a good idea!
Well, I follow all 5, so here’s to a healthy new year, right?!! Right!
You certainly deserve a healthy new year after your December!
Good tips! Made so much stronger when we do a combination of these types of things, too.
I just started my fitness journal with the start of the new year. I’m confident to keep on track with it…at least that’s my goal!
I’ve started to keep track of my workouts and goals again this month. I hope I can keep it going. And you know how much I love my MRTT group they are the best encouragement and motivation
I have been sidelined this first week because of this dang cold! Great tips! I love to try new recipes in the new year too. I have a motivation white board where I post my races for the upcoming year and some inspiring quotes and images.
That’s a great idea!
Welp, I don’t see “take extra naps” on your list, but I’ll go with your advice anyway. 😉
Dang! I knew I forgot something important!
Such great tips!!! I don’t really do resolutions but I’m all about a healthy year!!!
You will have to let us know if you like that slow cooker cook book!!
Yes, I hope to pick out a recipe or two to try this week!
I’m all about tracking my progress…and joining challenges for motivation!
Oh, challenges are a great idea. I do find them motivating — I guess I tend to be competitive!
Great tips! I’ve been trying to follow all of these…returning to journaling is a big one for me help keep me on track.
MyFitnessPal has been my fitness journal for the last week. It’s amazing how these little gadgets help!
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