The following information has been provided by Peninsula Performance Physio.
1. Choose something you enjoy
The person who loves walking will always go further than the person who only loves the destination. Finding enjoyment in your fitness journey can significantly improve your chances of success. Choose activities you genuinely enjoy, especially involving other people, help to make exercise feel less like a chore. Partnering with a friend, joining a group class, or working with a trainer can keep you motivated and on track. Celebrating small milestones along the way will help maintain your enthusiasm and reinforce your commitment to your goals.
2. Start Small
Do not start with the thing you want to do at the frequency and magnitude you want to do it. Start with small bite sized steps towards this, so that it’s sustainable. Once you have built the habit, you can continue to build on that habit in time to achieve your goal. E.g. If you want to run a half marathon from nothing, rather than running 4-5 x week at a difficult distance (which will burn you out within the first 2 months), begin with running (or even walking) a distance which doesn’t pose any challenge for 4 x week. Once you prove to yourself that you can achieve this consistency and you have built the habit, then over the coming months you can build the KM’s up much more easily.
3. Habit stacking
Habit stacking is a powerful strategy for building and maintaining positive habits by linking them to existing routines. The concept involves identifying an established habit and “stacking” a new, desired behavior onto it. For example, if you already brush your teeth every morning, you might add a simple mindfulness practice, such as taking three deep breaths, immediately afterward. By anchoring new habits to reliable cues in your daily routine, habit stacking creates a seamless and sustainable way to implement changes, helping you stay consistent and progress toward your goals over time.
For help and information on starting and continuing your health and fitness resolution, contact Peninsula Performance Physio today.
