8 Best Ways to Make Your New Year's Fitness Resolution Stick

GE Privacy

Introduction: protecting your privacy, enhancing your online experience

When it comes to data privacy, protecting your personal information is most important. We feel it’s also important to give you, your colleagues, and your family members a voice in the development of this web site and your overall experience with it. To do this, we need to collect certain types of information to help us evaluate how the HealthAhead web site is being used, so we can continually improve your experience and the content we offer to you. By tracking overall usage patterns, providing an easy channel for your feedback, and allowing you to tell us what content is most useful to you, we can refine our offerings and provide more of the content you personally find valuable.

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Information we collect and how we use it

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Specifically we will track, collect and report on the following data using software from Google Analytics. For more information about Google Analytics, including information about how to opt out of these technologies, go to www.google-analytics.com

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The sub-metrics include:

Most Popular Content Types, Most Popular Content Topics, User Pathing, Exit Links, Bounce Rate, Traffic by Source (region), Time on Web site, Visit Time of Day, Unique Views/Page Views, Thumps Up/Down, Most Shared Content, Number of Times Content is Rated, Most Rated Content by Type, Language Selection.

We will also be tracking how much communicators, web site leaders and other HealthAhead operations teams are leveraging the web site to support and align their business, regional and web site specific efforts. Some of these metrics may be tracked using existing support central tools.

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Number of Content Submissions by Region, Number of non-corporate Driven Promotions by RCs, Number of Promotional Downloads by Region, Support Central Survey

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Please also review GE’s Social Media Guidelines

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If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy & Data Policy, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by visiting our Feedback Form.

8 Best Ways to Make Your New Year's Fitness Resolution Stick

Come January 2, many fitness centers will be teeming with people who’ve made the commitment to get fit this year. Will you be one of them? If so, you’ll be 10 times more likely to change your sedentary ways than people who don’t take the time to make intentional resolutions, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

However, just making a New Year’s resolution is not enough. You also need to stick with it, and that’s the tough part. The APA also notes that around 60 percent of those who start off their plans with a bang in January have dropped them by June. Given this reality, how can you make your commitment stick for the long haul?

We’ve got eight easy ideas to help you commit to making fitness part of your routine for all 365 days of the coming year.

Take it slowly. While it’s nice to be ambitious, you don’t want to set your sights so high that you can’t achieve them. The APA suggests starting with small goals that you’re likely to master without too much trouble. This will give you a sense of accomplishment that’s motivating, rather than set you up for failure. For example, consider challenging yourself to exercise for 10 minutes a day, instead of a half-hour, at the start of your new program.

Use the right self-talk. A study reported in the journal Psychological Science found that the words you use to motivate yourself to reach your goals may affect your success. Asking yourself “Will I exercise?” was found to be more effective than pressuring yourself to workout with the command “I will exercise.” Researchers speculated that posing the goal as a question works better because it suggests that you have more personal choice in the matter.

Avoid “false hope.” Researchers at the University of Toronto found that when people try to follow through with a resolution that’s unrealistic and doesn’t match how they view themselves, it can backfire. This is known as the “false hope syndrome.” An example of this is using positive affirmations to tell yourself that you can run a mile in seven minutes, when you don’t have the training to reach that goal right now.

Make it fun, not a chore. Psychology Today notes that when we try to force ourselves to do something we find unpleasant, this may backfire, too. Therefore, it’s best to choose a type of physical activity you actually enjoy, rather than one you just think you “should” do. If you hate going to the gym or running, structure your resolution around going for hikes, going ice skating, or playing pickup basketball with your friends, if you like those workouts better.

Tackle one goal at a time. Another reason that many people fail in their resolutions is that they set too many goals for themselves at once. For example, if they want to improve their fitness, they may try to change their diet to lose weight at the same time that they’re pushing themselves to stick to a new workout regimen. Instead, just choose one goal that feels manageable, like jogging three times a week, and master that before adding new goals.

Cut yourself some slack. It’s natural to “fall off the wagon” from time to time when you’re building new healthier habits. Some people get discouraged if they slip up, and give up on their goals altogether. Instead, accept that ups and downs are normal, and detours are common when learning to become more active. Acknowledge any missteps and get back on track with your next workout.

Notice your triggers. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests becoming aware of your bad habits and triggers so that you can use that knowledge to help you change them. For example, if you have a habit of going home after work and watching TV on the sofa, resolve that you will avoid this routine and replace it with a gym visit. If meeting with a certain friend always results in going out for drinks at the time you’d like to exercise, avoid making plans with that friend at that time of day.

Buddy up. The American Heart Association states that working out with others may help increase your motivation and make you accountable for your physical fitness goals. When you make your New Year’s resolutions, include details about who you will take on your journey with you. Consider family members, friends, and coworkers as potential workout partners, and ask them to commit to some new fitness goals with you.

HealthAhead Hint: Easy to Make, Hard to Keep
Now that you know the challenges that many people have in keeping their resolutions, you’re prepared to do what it takes to stick with yours. Choose fitness goals that you enjoy, don’t bite off more than you can chew, and be sure not to give up when you slip up. Before you know it, you may succeed in staying active all year long, and then you’ll be ready for new challenges!