5 Ways to Make 2021 Your Best Fitness Year Yet

5 Ways to Make 2021 Your Best Fitness Year Yet

At the top of each year, one of the most popular resolutions involves fitness. Whether people are trying to lose weight, gain weight, or improve their overall health, fitness goals tend to gravitate toward the top of the list. While many people start with good intentions, they tend to fall off the fitness train. By February or March, they're back to their old ways. If you'd like to make a shift and make 2021 your best fitness year yet, consider the following five tips before you begin.

1. Start with What You Enjoy

Consider the activities you enjoy. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, start by taking a walk or jog in the neighborhood. Start with two miles. If you're someone who loves cardio dance workouts, find a new instructor on YouTube or a fitness app. As you associate fitness with fun and enjoyment, it'll be easier to prioritize it into your schedule because it's a source of pleasure.

2. Commit to Small Steps Daily

Financial experts often talk about the importance of investing early. Time is one of your most significant commodities, and supporting early leads to major wins because of the power of compound interest. When you consistently invest wisely, those small amounts will compound over a long period to provide significant results in the end. If you have a goal of running a 5K without stopping, consider where you are. If you don't walk regularly, don't try to take on the task of running a 5K by the following month. Instead, work up to it. Take small steps by walking first. Then, you can transition to walking mixed with jogging. As you improve, you can transition to jogging and running until you can run the entire 5K without stopping. This process can easily take a few months. Just commit to the smaller steps daily. Those fitness investments will provide a compound effect.

3. Develop a Support System

Even though so many people want to believe they don't need validation and encouragement, it's always nice to know that someone sees your hard work. It's nice to feel like someone cares about your wins and is rooting for you. Many people need to work on goals and let their achievements speak independently silently. However, it's helpful to have the right voices in your ear to help you continue on your journey. A physical trainer and a nutritionist can be immensely beneficial as you work to improve your overall fitness. In the process, don't forget that it all starts with your mindset. A mental performance coach may help you develop the mindset you need to look at your goals and attack them with laser-like mental fortitude and precision. Once your mind is set on a plan, there's nothing anyone can do to get in your way. A cognitive performance coach is a great professional to improve your fitness and any other area of your life.

4. Track Your Progress

When you have a goal to build a certain amount of muscle, it's not uncommon to become impatient with the process. This is mainly because it takes time to build muscle. It also takes consistency. One of the best ways you can help yourself remain consistent is by tracking your progress. Take your measurements and pictures. At the end of each month, take new pictures and measurements with the same outfit and lighting. Keep all of your external variables the same to see any differences as time progresses. As you begin to see progress, it'll be much easier to remain committed to the journey in the long haul.

5. Set Internal Fitness Goals

In addition to tracking your progress, do your best to avoid solely tracking external factors like the number on the scale or the dress size you drop. It's also good to consider goals like endurance, flexibility and coordination. If you're working on improving your skills in step aerobics, pay attention to how well you do during a workout. If you can't make it through training without tripping over your feet, don't give up. Just remain consistent until you're able to step around the room with ease. If you can't climb a staircase without feeling winded, begin implementing practical steps to help you build your endurance.

 

Don't put a ton of pressure on yourself when you're getting started. When the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, the date changed. However, your habits didn't change. The only way to truly improve your fitness level is by committing to the process daily; you continue to show up each day and take small steps, you'll get to the end of 2021 and realize that you've created a lifestyle’s conducive to your fitness goals.

How to Step Up Your Fitness Routine?

The Best Fitness Routine

Even the most seasoned fitness enthusiasts struggle with plateaus as they strive to reach all of their workout goals. If you need to shake up your routine, there are numerous ways that you can break through the plateau to forge ahead. Here are five ways that you can boost your workout routine.

1. Fuel the Body

You cannot expect your body to perform at maximum levels if it is not properly fueled. Do not try to work out on an empty stomach. Even something as simple as a banana can help to propel you through your exercise routine.



Many workout enthusiasts also swear by a cup of coffee just prior to the workout. Caffeine can give you that much-needed jolt to power you through the session. When you conclude your workout, be sure to drink plenty of water. Failing to properly rehydrate could lead to cramps and fatigue, negatively affecting your next workout.

2. Take it Outside

There is something so much more motivating about being outside when you work up a sweat. If you feel as if your fitness routine is in a rut, perhaps you simply need to take it outside for some extra inspiration. Why settle for a stuffy gym workout when you can get outside and connect with Mother Nature while getting in your daily exercise routine?



If you thrive on the social aspect of exercising, be sure to check out your local options for outdoor group workouts. For example, there are many places to find an outdoor workout in Portland.

3. Have a Plan

A solid fitness routine is backed by a solid plan. You do not want to walk into the gym without knowing what your objectives are for the day. Not only do you need a daily plan, but you also need a weekly and a monthly plan. While it is acceptable to deviate from this plan when life throws you a curveball, a general guide will keep you accountable to yourself.

Re-establishing your fitness goals can go a long way in helping you to reach your objectives. The process of writing down these goals will provide a guiding framework for you. You will also be able to look back and see how far you have come, providing you with an extra layer of motivation.

4. Recruit a Friend

If you need a little more motivation to just get out there and do it, try recruiting a friend to go down this fitness path with you. A gym buddy will make it more enjoyable to go through the process. In addition, a workout friend will also push you to try more things that you may have not been willing to attempt on your own.



Not only is working out with a friend more fun, but it also provides you with more accountability. It is much more difficult to bag out of a workout if you do not want to let down your friend.

5. Mix it Up

Many people stop seeing results when they get stuck in a rut of doing the same type of exercise over and over. Not only does it stop being as challenging to the body, but it also stops being as stimulating to your mind.

You can step up your overall fitness routine if you commit to mixing it up regularly. For example, if you are addicted to cardio, you should try incorporating strength training a few times per week. If you are a running addict, try riding a bike on occasion to push your body to try something new.



Do not let yourself get stuck in a rut. These five tips will help you to give a jumpstart to your fitness routine so that you are able to make the most out of your time.