28 December 2023
As with any other year, many of us will kick off 2024 by making New Year’s resolutions to become stronger, fitter, and healthier. While only 8% of Americans stick to their New Year’s resolutions, you can be a part of that by setting achievable fitness goals and making the most of the resources available to you.
One of the best methods for setting achievable New Year fitness plans is to use the acronym SMART, which stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound. By providing a clear, reliable goal-setting strategy, SMART helps turn good intentions into results.
Creating realistic fitness goals is key to achieving success. While your first instinct might be to set one massive goal, like running the New York City Marathon in 2024, you need to ensure your goals are achievable, especially if you have little running experience. Instead, set several smaller goals you can achieve in a realistic timeframe based on your schedule and resources.
Be kind to yourself as you work on your fitness goals. These are new habits you’re developing, and they’ll take time. Avoid being negative about yourself when you have a bad day — everyone has them. Remember, it can take up to 66 days for any new behavior to become engrained enough in your routine that it’s automatic. So, be patient with yourself!