Physical activity is super important to our health and wellness… and that’s why getting active is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions!
Exercise can provide us with a number of benefits – from chronic disease reduction to weight loss, increased energy, lower stress, and a stronger body.
Exercise-related New Year’s resolutions can be difficult to maintain, especially for people who are new to a regular workout routine – but with proper planning and support, they can be very achievable.
Here are a few simple tips to help you maintain your exercise resolutions well into 2020.
Tip #1: Understand Exercise Recommendations
To begin reaching your New Year’s exercise milestones, you should know the minimum activity requirements you should be aiming for.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, healthy adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic, or cardio, exercises per week, with at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day.
In addition to aerobic activity, you should also incorporate two or more strength-training sessions per week to help exercise your major muscle groups. You can lift weights, do push-ups, or use resistance bands to build your muscles.
Tip #2: Break Up Your Workout Routine
Beginning an exercise routine can be tough – especially in the New Year. That’s why it’s important to take it slow and build up your workouts over time.
If a 30-minute session is difficult first at, you can break it up into 5 to 10-minute chunks throughout the day!
Maybe you take a brisk walk for 15 minutes in the morning, take a jog for 5 minutes on your work break, and take another brisk walk for 10 minutes in the evening.
Or maybe you do jumping jacks during the 5-minute commercial breaks when you’re watching TV – and just 6 of these sessions can help you reach your minimum daily goal!
Tip #3: Partner Up
It’s easy to let a New Year’s resolution slip away if there’s no one there to hold you accountable to your goals.
To keep yourself on track, partner up and get active with someone you trust!
You can choose a friend, spouse, or family member to exercise with. Go to the gym together, schedule daily runs around your neighborhood, or play sports together on the weekends!
Can’t find anyone to partner up with? Try joining a local exercise class, club, or sports team for additional accountability.
The more people you have in your life to encourage you to get active, the easier it is to keep up physical activity – so make a game plan!
Healthy Habits Beyond the New Year
If you’re making a resolution to increase your physical activity in the New Year, you’re taking your health in a positive direction – congratulations!
With these changes, you can see some awesome improvements – and decrease your risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
