Buzz
If you're planning to begin or restart a fitness habit in the new year, here's the best advice you'll hear this month: begin right now. Yes, right in the middle of the holiday madness. Yes, even when no one else is making a move. Yes, even if you're unsure of what exactly you want to do or how to approach it. There's no time like the present.
Starting today helps you discover what you're truly after.
Even if you consider January as the time to start fresh with fitness and life, think of December as your experimental phase, a time to explore different ideas and reflect on what it is you truly desire.
If it’s been a while since you’ve visited the gym, why not drop by now? Check out the space, give the machines a try, and take a look at the class schedule. Why not even join a class or two, with no pressure to commit? If you haven't joined a gym yet, visit a few different ones and take your time before making a decision.
Trying out new things is valuable; it helps you learn about yourself and what you're engaging with. Perhaps you planned on starting a couch-to-5K program in the new year, but now you’ve found yourself hooked on the exercise bike. Maybe you thought you'd start with a simple gym routine, but you picked up a barbell on a whim and now you’re considering focusing on mastering the squat rack instead.
You'll soon notice the mental health benefits.
December can be a stressful time for many of us, whether the stress is positive, negative, or a mixture of both. I often find myself scrambling at the end of the year, remembering things like choosing a health insurance plan, wrapping up work projects, or attending my kid’s holiday concert. I know I’m not alone in this.
At first, fitting a few workouts into your week might seem like it will add to your stress. But in reality, exercise is one of the easiest things to schedule: no prep, no homework. You just show up and get moving. If you need to, schedule it and keep the appointment with yourself. Exercise is a great stress reliever, and committing to a routine will likely decrease your overall stress levels.
Starting your routine during a busy time will help keep you accountable. Are you truly going to drive to that gym across town? If you can manage to stick with it throughout December, you’ll know your routine has staying power. But if you end up skipping the drive in favor of running around the block or doing some pushups and kettlebell swings at home, maybe that’s the fitness plan that will work best for you in the long run.
You’ll beat the crowds.
Gyms get packed in January, it’s just a part of the cycle. Instead of scrambling for a treadmill when everyone else wants one, why not get started now while the gym is less crowded? Familiarize yourself with the space when it’s just you and a few regulars around.
By the time it starts to get busy after the new year, you’ll be a pro. You won’t have to search for the 2.5-pound plates because you’ll know the gym has two pairs, and you can usually find one at the last bench rack in the row.
You’ll have figured out your routine and your preferences by then. You’ll know which classes you want to take because you’ve tried them all. You’ll know what to wear for cold weather runs because you’ve been through a few. And you’ll know that missing a workout when you catch a cold isn’t the end of the world because you’ve built consistency, and you’ll be back at it in no time. You’ll feel confident, and that’s because you started this whole process a month ago. Or, to put it another way, you started now.
