New Year's Resolutions

Health & Fitness Version

We’ve nearly arrived, folks.

Although it seems like just yesterday we were scribbling out the 3 in 2023 and replacing it with a 4, it’s time to break out that eraser again and get used to penciling in a 5.

And it’s also the time where you better strategically choose what time to hit the gym because peak hours will be overflowing as usual in the early month(s), often singular, of the new year.

It’s been reiterated enough that New Year’s resolutions typically don’t stick, especially those associated with health and fitness.

Let’s be real, December 31^st turning into January 1^st isn’t miraculously going to change our brain chemistry and instill a new sense of identity. But it’s an opportunity for a reset — one that many are seeking in various areas of their lives.

A good reminder from author Robert Fritz related to this…

“If a riverbed remains unchanged, the water will continue to flow along the path it always has, since that is the most natural route for it to take. If the underlying structures of your life remain unchanged, the greatest tendency is for you to follow the same direction your life has always taken.”

Put simply, behavior change takes true effort and personal transformation. If it was easy, you would have already done it and not needed to put it on this year’s resolution list yet again.

Which is another good reminder.

Give yourself some grace, it isn’t supposed to come without a struggle. We get used to doing things a certain way, establish habits (natural routes), and these become the path of least resistance.

And that’s why I realize now how important it is to simplify this discussion. It’s easy to get into the weeds of the many 180-degree turns we’re seeking, but being realistic is key.

With that being said, here are three overarching principles I’ll be following this year to ensure I’m staying on top of my health and fitness for the ENTIRETY of 2025.

Consistency > Intensity

As Nick Bare endlessly repeats, being consistently good beats occasional greatness 110% of the time.

Rather than starting off the year with a grandiose goal, choose one that’s uncomfortable but still within reach — especially important when the rah-rah motivation is gone after the first couple months of the new year and things start to get tough.

A key component here is to zoom out from the trees to see the forest — to broaden our perspective, that is.

Rather than frantically trying to stay under your daily 2,000-calorie intake goal, what if you aimed for less than 14,000 calories for the week to give yourself some leeway and freedom?

While some prefer it, I find smaller time bounds increases the likelihood of burnout and going completely off the rails after a couple “bad” days. But with a longer-term perspective, these days are allowed and even welcomed… as long as the others make up for the difference.

To increase your probability of success, I can’t stress enough how important it is to keep a record of whatever your goal(s) are to track adherence.

A simple monthly calendar (put in plain sight) goes a long way.

Practical Suggestions: