Ah, summer – a break in our daily routine, and an extra serving of ice cream is always welcome. It’s easy to let our health goals fall by the wayside when all we’re looking at is people flying around Europe or lounging by the pool with a glass of rosé. It seems like January 1st is a lifetime ago when we set goals to work out three times a week or meditate every day for 10 minutes. If New Year’s Day is made for setting resolutions, then summer is the ultimate test of those goals.
While it may be tempting to stick to your fitness goals this summer, there are ways to stick to them and still make it through the warm weather and everything for a few months. and how much the next one will give. So, whether you want to keep up your exercise routine, maintain a healthy diet, or improve your mental health, here are six tips to keep your fitness goals (while you’re still -enjoy the moment).
1. Make time and plan
Back in January when you set your health goals, you were probably excited, motivated, and committed. Six months later, your initial enthusiasm for seeing them may have waned, and that’s okay. It just means it’s time to reevaluate and make new plans, specifically for summer. Review your goals and see where you can make changes to get the most out of this moment. For example, if your goal is to be more productive, but the thought of going to the gym outside in the sun sounds awful, move your workout outside. Writing down your plan helps you put it into action and keeps you accountable for your goals.
2. Set aside time dedicated to your goals
For most of us, summer is the busiest time of the year. We travel more, attend more weddings, and have busy social calendars, making it difficult to find time to prioritize our health goals. But being able to enjoy all that summer has to offer depends on our health, so we have to make time for it. Think about it: You want to have good energy, digestion, and mood to be able to enjoy every special moment. Setting aside time to fulfill your above-mentioned plans should be set aside in the same way that you would have a work meeting or meet up with friends. Set up a daily or weekly block of time on your calendar for the summer, and stick to it!
3. Provide positive support
Remember being rewarded for the good things you did as a child? Maybe it’s cookies after your homework or a play date after you’ve done your work. Now, I’m not saying that you should reward yourself every time you get one step closer to your goal, but sometimes a change in mindset can help. Try to change the way you approach your goals by planning a fun activity or trip as a “kick back” for your hard work. It’s the best way to make sure you stick to your goals without wasting your summer.
4. Prepare for travel
If you’re like me, you’re eagerly counting down the days to your vacation, but also worried as you wonder how you’ll be able to maintain some kind of fitness routine when Are you getting off. Over the years, I’ve learned to adjust my fitness routine for traveling so that I can enjoy my vacation and health. This can mean fitting in a 15- or 30-minute workout in the morning before everyone wakes up, packing in a supplement that can help support your system (I always bring digestive enzymes, B- complex, probiotics, and high powder). or setting aside time each day for yourself to meditate or journal. Regardless of your fitness goals, there are ways to adapt them for travel. Your schedule may not be the same as yours at home, but that’s part of living a healthy lifestyle.
5. Find a friend
Having an accountability buddy not only keeps you on track with your goals but also makes achieving them more fun. Find someone who shares your health goals and plan together how to achieve them. Sign up for an exercise class, make a grocery shopping date, or check in with each other via text every day. Having someone you can share your health journey with allows for an encouraging environment.
6. Think about your progress
With any long-term goal, it’s important to take the time to reflect on your progress, review everything you’ve learned, and make any necessary changes to move forward. If you’re six months into your daily meditation goal, and you’re sticking to it, congratulations! But if you’re the one who fell off the wagon twice, that’s fine too. Every day looks different, but there is no “vehicle” that will fail. Being healthy is all about adapting to how you express yourself every day. No matter where you are in your journey, be proud of your accomplishments. Fitness is a lifelong journey, and reflecting on your progress is one of its many joys.
