How to set achievable health goals in 2021?

It’s that time of the year when you put together your new year’s resolution yet again in the hope that you manage to stick to it, unlike the previous year. Health and fitness are topics that manage to top the list for almost everyone. But have you ever wondered why your enthusiasm takes a break after a few weeks? Or why you inexplicably become lazy after a point in time? It’s probably because you are either setting unrealistic goals or not strategically working towards your fitness goals. Hence if you too are tired of facing repeated disappointments in your fitness journey, take some time off to reflect on your actions before you put together a fitness plan for 2020. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you set health and fitness goals for 2021 to ensure that you turn them into action items -

1. Set realistic goals for yourself. If you are someone who doesn’t sleep at night and suddenly decides to wake up at 5 am for a morning job, you are only going to disappoint yourself. So go easy on yourself and set tasks like a 15 min walk as soon as you wake up or a 30-minute yoga session every day in the evening. This way, you would not put pressure on yourself and at the same time, ensure some consistency in your routine.
2. It’s okay to skip a day or two. On those days when you miss your window, you don’t have to become disappointed. Normalise skipping your workout sessions but always make sure to get back on track. Missing your session for a day shouldn’t demotivate you. Hence keep up the vigour and consistency despite a few misses.
3. Find a workout partner or join some class. Now, this is a great tip especially if you are just starting your fitness journey. To have a partner with whom you can share updates can really boost your morale in your journey of becoming fit. This way you can depend on your partner to encourage you on your dull days.
4. Put up your goals in visible areas in your house. Write down your fitness goals in bold and put it up in those areas of your house where you frequently visit. This will act as a frequent reminder for you to stick to them no matter what!
5. Put yourself out there on social media. Now, this is optional as not many people are comfortable sharing their progress. However, updating your followers about your journey without feeling vulnerable will motivate you further!
6. Be flexible. It’s always a good idea to take a break from your usual workout and try something entirely different like yoga or aerobics. As long as you keep the session fun and entertaining, working out will no longer seem like a task to you!
7. Don’t compare yourself with people who are 10 steps ahead of you. Now, this is extremely important because once you start comparing yourself with others who are way ahead of you, you are only going to get demotivated and eventually stop trying.

These are some of the tips and tricks with which you can stick to your fitness goals without losing interest in the long run. All it takes is some mindset shifts and you will be all set to ace 2021!