Are Your Wellness Resolutions Still Standing? A Milestone Perspective
February 22, 2025
The January Rush: The gym was packed in January, but what about now?
Gym memberships tend to soar at the beginning of the New Year because many people set resolutions to improve their health and wellness. After the initial excitement wears off, however, attendance often tapers off. There can be many reasons why one may stop working out early into their fitness journey.
Common Roadblocks to Gym Consistency:
- – Unrealistic expectations (expecting instant results instead of recognizing progress through small milestones).
- – Lack of a clear workout plan (feeling lost without structured, achievable fitness milestones).
- – Time constraints (struggling to fit workouts in without setting realistic, time-based fitness goals).
- – Loss of motivation (without tracking progress, it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come).
Although many of these adversities can become overwhelming and discouraging, there are ways to overcome them. Let’s dive into some quick and practical tips using a milestone approach to keep those resolution goals alive.
Simple Strategies to Stay on Track with Milestones:- – Set small, measurable milestones (e.g., “Complete three workouts this week” instead of just “Get fit”). Starting small is a great way to build up on your skills.
- – Track progress in a journal or app to celebrate each milestone along the way. This is a great way to visualize your progress.
- – Break long-term goals into seasonal check-ins (e.g., Winter: build consistency, Spring: increase strength, etc). Mini-milestones can really build confidence as you conquer them.
- – Having an accountability partner to help recognize and celebrate progress. My family and I have a group text that we report on and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. It is extremely motivating.
- An important thing to remember is that whether you have a gym membership or not, it does not matter. The beauty of wellness is that getting and staying fit can be done anywhere.
- Conclusion: Keep Moving Forward with Milestones
Remember that setbacks are normal, but progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about hitting milestones along the way. Whenever you encounter a plateau or loss of motivation, reevaluate and adjust your approach rather than abandon their goals. Instead of focusing on where you ‘should’ be, look at the milestones you’ve already reached. I will leave you with this to think about: What’s one small step you can take today toward your next milestone? I look forward to hearing you all share your progress updates.
Dr. Ra’Sheeda
