The new year brings new hopes for better habits and, as such, improved quality of life. If exercise is a central part of this year’s self-improvement strategy for you, one of the best ways to incorporate exercise back into your life can be to hit the gym.
New Year’s resolutions are all about seizing opportunity, and they offer a little spur of motivation to help us reach new goals. But this year, people seem especially disenchanted with the concept. According to a new CBS poll, only 29% of Americans planned to make any New Year’s resolutions, which is down from 43% last year.
Although New Year’s resolutions can feel just as easy to break as to make, that’s no reason to give up so easily (especially if your resolution is something worthwhile). Here is some food for thought, along with some great healthy tips on creating a gym routine that sticks.
Healthy Tips and the Benefits of Exercise
It’s no surprise that in December and January, gyms regularly experience a bump in memberships and attendance as people work to adopt fitness routines. Exercise is essential and is known to improve physical wellbeing, reduce your risk of several health conditions, and help alleviate mental health problems and depressive symptoms.
But getting back to the gym is just as much a mind game as it is a test of physical endurance. It’s important to acknowledge a few realities before hurling yourself into an intense workout regimen.
Here are some healthy tips for giving you the best shot at a gym membership that lasts and gives you the results you want:
1. Be Strategic (a.k.a. don’t push yourself too hard)
Trying to deadlift your entire body weight on day one is more likely to get you injured than ripped. We are constantly bombarded with messaging featuring bulging biceps, rock-hard abs, and fully toned bodies. Still, it’s unreasonable to demand those results immediately.
Focus on the areas of your body that you most want to work on, and don’t look for results every time you go in front of the mirror. Instead, think about how much healthier your body gets every time you show up and work out.
If it’s been a while since you last worked out, remember that it’s especially important to stretch before you do anything. Also, remember that getting a quality workout requires energy, hydration, and the proper form.
2. Make It a Positive Part of Your Day
One trick to sticking with a fitness routine is making sure you’re doing a type of exercise that you enjoy. If you want your gym routine to stick, psych yourself up for it instead of psyching yourself out.
If you can keep a positive attitude and leave the gym feeling good about yourself, then it will be that much easier to come back for another workout.
3. Get Loved Ones on Your Team
Share your plans and fitness goals with loved ones. If you’re the kind of person who gets a boost from encouragement from others, then maybe even offer a post on social media asking for words of encouragement. Another great strategy is to recruit a friend to tag along and be your workout buddy!
4. Remember to Plan for Healthy Hygiene
Gyms are high-energy environments where people make incredible strides in achieving fitness goals, but they have downsides. With so much energy, humidity, and perspiration in the air, gym surfaces and equipment can be hotspots for germs.
For that reason, trips to the gym should involve a little extra planning to help ensure that you don’t pick up any stragglers while breaking a sweat. Make sure you bring your own towel and flip-flops (if you plan to shower), and also remember to wipe equipment down carefully before you use it. Many gyms provide hand sanitizer wipes throughout their facilities to encourage good hand hygiene.
It also goes without saying that part of good personal hygiene is washing your hands frequently. To reduce the likelihood of those disease-causing germs coming into contact with your face, it’s worth bringing along a portable hand-sanitizer dispenser to use when soap and water aren’t available or practical, and using it between sets.
Vi-Jon, the makers of Germ-X® hand sanitizer, offers portable hand sanitizer options, including single-use hand sanitizer wipes, hand sanitizer spray, and hand sanitizer gel dispensers conveniently attached to carabiners.
The Germ-X® hand sanitizer formula is effective at eliminating 99.99% of many common harmful germs in as little as 15 seconds. The formula helps prevent hands from drying and contains vitamins and moisturizers.
If you’re interested in a productive workout routine but are also looking to keep germs at bay, make sure you do your best to follow these tips for a gym routine that sticks! The challenges are there, but we know that you can do it with some time and dedication!
