After the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, and you wake up on January 1st, the time to start tackling your resolution has come. In January, gyms fill up with exercisers ready to hit the ground running and achieve their goals. In February, that excitement begins to fade, and by March most resolutions have been forgotten.

Maybe one of the problems is thinking you have to go to a gym or have fancy equipment to lose weight or get fit. The reality is most of us don’t have the time or money to invest in those things. And you know what? You don’t need to! Follow these New Year’s resolution tips, and you’ll be on your way to a fit and healthy 2018!

1. Define your goal. It’s hard to work towards something when you don’t know what you are working towards. What’s your goal? Do you want to lose weight? Train for a 5k? Be more active on a daily basis? Write your goal down and keep it in a place you will see daily.

2. Make a plan. You have your goal, but how are you going to achieve it? Start making a list of activities you like to do. This is important. If you don’t enjoy your activity you won’t stick with it, and that leaves your goal dead in the water. Add to this list some activities you might want to try. Now look at your schedule and figure out when you will be able to fit in a workout, and where you will do it.

3. Don’t overdo it. It’s easy to say “I’m going to run for an hour on the treadmill each day.”, but that is almost certainly a promise you can’t keep. We all have days when we need rest, are truly too busy, or are under the weather. Instead, plan a certain number of workouts per week. Some weeks you may have time for more, but if you need a break, take it.

**4. Build a support system. **Do you have friends or coworkers with similar goals to yours? See if you can plan workouts together. Tell supportive family members about your resolution so they can support you along the way.

5. Don’t forget food. Whether your goal is weight loss, fitness, or athletic performance, what you eat will factor into your overall plan. Keep a food diary for a week to get an idea of what your diet looks like, then start to make changes where necessary.

6. Don’t beat yourself up. Did you overindulge during a night out with friends? Skip a few workouts? You may be tempted to scrap your whole plan, but don’t. Cut yourself a break and pick up where you left off. We’re all human!

7. Make an appointment…with yourself. Pencil in some time in your calendar to sit down and review your goals. Every two months is a good amount of time. Your interests or the amount of time you have to invest might change, or you might just need to start heading in a different direction. Use these appointments with yourself to review your progress, and be honest with yourself about how you feel about your resolution. Don’t be afraid to change it.

Many experts say that it takes 21 days to create a new habit, and 6 months to fully integrate it into your life. You won’t achieve your New Year’s Resolution without effort, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Every morning, recommit yourself to your goal, make sure to celebrate your successes, and enjoy the ride!

We would love to be a part of your journey this year. Email challenge@sworkit.com to become a part of a fitness challenge group on Facebook where you will be guided by a fitness coach to motivate you to accomplish your goals. We can help you tailor your fitness program to suit your schedule and fitness level.