If you’re like most people, you set some pretty hefty New Year’s resolutions that were designed to help you get into better shape and improve your health and well-being. While it’s easy to maintain motivation at first, staying motivated throughout the year isn’t as simple as you might think. Losing motivation happens to everyone, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your resolutions right as you’re getting started. You just need a little help from your trusted physical therapy treatment team. Here are a few proven tips to help you get back on track.

Find Someone to Work Out With

Staying motivated or recovering your motivation is always easier when you’re working out with a friend. Use this to your advantage. Find someone you enjoy spending time with to work out with you. Align your goals, try new exercises together, and pump each other up. The more you can encourage each other and hold each other accountable, the easier it will be for you to maintain your motivation and reach your goals.

Set Smaller Goals

Many people set incredibly hard-to-reach goals as part of their New Year’s resolutions. At first glance, it seems like you’ll be more motivated if your goals are hard to hit but it’s not always the case. In fact, goals that are too hard to hit can actually leave you feeling less motivated. If you’ve lost motivation, try breaking your big goals into smaller ones. This will help you feel more of a sense of accomplishment and makes it easier to stay on track to reach your bigger goals in the long run.

Track Your Progress

Progress is always measurable but if you’re not keeping track of the improvements you’re making, it’s easy to feel like you’re not getting anywhere. When this happens, it’s all too easy to give up or slack off on your workout routines. Instead, get in the habit of tracking your achievements. If you successfully declined dessert all week long, celebrate. If you worked out longer or harder than you did the previous week, note that progress and celebrate those wins.

Treat Yourself Once in a While

When you feel like you’re constantly denying yourself treats and activities that make you feel good, it’s hard to keep going. It hurts your morale and keeps you from reaching your goals in the long run. Instead, give yourself permission to live a little. Enjoy a favorite treat every once in a while. Take an unplanned day off from your workout routine. Whatever it is, be forgiving of yourself. You can always get right back to your routine the next day. 

Meeting Your Goals Is Possible

Achieving your New Year’s resolutions is possible as long as you can stay motivated to reach those goals. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll find pushing through those plateaus and overcoming challenges much easier. If you end up injuring yourself while trying to achieve a new level of fitness, reach out to your closest location and schedule a consultation with our physical therapy experts.