‘Now is the time to ease ourselves into a new, positive relationship with fitness’

When this year started, lots of us will have made fitness resolutions – and after the January we had, it’s no surprise that some of us haven’t made the progress that we might have liked.

But instead of writing those goals off completely, I think that now is the perfect time to revisit our intentions – without the new-year pressure – and ease ourselves into a new, positive relationship with fitness.

When setting goals for ourselves, especially in January, we often take a ‘go hard or go home’ approach, committing to a large number of workouts per week or completely swearing off something we consider to be unhealthy.

However, making huge changes like these can be tricky, even for the most disciplined.

Something is bound to get in the way of us hitting those targets – be it an unexpectedly busy work day, a poor night’s sleep or a new national lockdown, and when it does, we instantly feel as though we’ve failed.

The more we’ve committed to, the more of those unpleasant feelings of failure we’re exposing ourselves to. Eventually, these feelings overwhelm our desire to stick to our new routine and we abandon it.

I suggest a different approach. Instead of committing to huge changes and expecting quick results, try choosing one thing that you’d like to do.

Make it achievement-based, rather than aesthetic – it could be doing a full press-up, or going to one exercise class a week. Then work out how it will fit into your routine.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKypqpnjdnK/

While some of us are happy to self-motivate, I definitely enjoy having others involved, as I feel more supported.

Logging in to a trainer-led Zoom class at a specific time, rather than a pre-recorded class that can be done at any time, might help you to get into a regular habit.

Arranging to meet a friend for a weekly run, rather than going it alone, might motivate you to go out even in the rain.

It’s also important to think about any specific support you need for your goal.

Asking for help can be tricky, especially when you’re working out at home, but lots of gyms have adapted their offerings to suit their members’ new needs.

At F45, as well as our live classes, we offer 45-day mini plans for movements such as squats and press-ups that you can start anytime and do on your own.

We also have the option of messaging, videoing or doing a Zoom with one of our trainers if you need advice on your form or help progressing or regressing a movement.

With all of that in place, achieving your goal should feel a little bit easier and definitely a more enjoyable experience.

And because you’ve kept it simple, you can be flexible about fitting it in when life gets in the way, allowing you to feel positive about your success in sticking to it.

Having one goal under our belts gives us confidence to then revisit our goals again as we move through the year, and start to work on a new one.

Instead of feeling guilty about the time we’ve had to take off from the gym, we’ll look forward to the opportunities that will come with restrictions easing and fitness centres reopening, and enjoy building them back into our routine.

Main photo: JMP

Jess Brown is head coach at F45 Bristol Central. Find out more about F45 at www.f45training.co.uk/bristolcentral or follow them on Instagram, @f45_bristolcentral

Read more: ‘Exercise is so much more than just pushing out reps’