Before you know it, Autumn will have been and gone, and we will be moving into January. Many of us use this time to prioritise our health, making lifestyle changes that we hope will stick throughout the year. However, where many people go wrong is changing everything at once, as this feels so overwhelming, so it’s unlikely these are habits that will stay with you. Instead, we’re here to introduce the essentials you need to set you up for success. Start incorporating some of these habits now and they will feel much easier moving into the new year!
A Training Plan and Accountability Partner
First up, in terms of your training, something you need to make a priority is having a training plan, and also someone to keep you accountable. In terms of your training plan, this will look different to everyone, as some people may not exercise much currently, whilst others are looking to ramp their training up to the next level. Either way, set yourself realistic goals you know you’ll stick to.
For someone who currently doesn’t exercise much, maybe you plan in one two weight lifting sessions per week, then on the other days, aim to hit 5,000 steps a day. For someone who already exercises, you may increase your weight lifting from 3 days to 4 days, and incorporate one or two runs a week alongside that. Write this down each week and tick off when your sessions are complete.
Something else that really helps is having someone to hold you accountable if you don’t hit your training goal. It’s easy on a cold night to want to curl up on the sofa and not move, but positive change comes from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. So, maybe you pick a friend who you can go to the gym with, or if you’re training separately, you text each other when you’ve finished your session.
A Strong Sleeping Pattern
Another important component for your health is sleep! Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night is key to helping your body and brain to recover, so you wake up the next day with the motivation to work hard and feel your best! If you currently get less than this, look at your routine and see what you can change. If you watch 2 hours of TV before bed, swap that for 1 hour, or if you have to get up early to shower and wash your hair, do that the night before instead. You’d be surprised at what a difference good sleep can make to your health and wellbeing.
A Good Quality Gym Outfit & Trainers
This may sound trivial, but a good quality gym outfit and trainers can be transformative. If you’re wearing gymwear that doesn’t make you feel good, or it doesn’t fit quite right, you’re not going to feel like working out or getting to the gym. If you also don’t have things like long sleeve training tops that are sweat wicking, you’ll just feel uncomfortable throughout workouts and it will make things all the more difficult. Equally, poor quality trainers can make training much more difficult, and can result in many different injuries, particularly hip, knee and ankle issues. So, treat yourself to a good quality gym outfit from a technical brand like A-Game Activewear (now is the perfect time to start dropping hints for Christmas, or look in the Black Friday sales).
