Most of us make our fitness goals in January at the start of the new year, and they are long forgotten by the fall. January feels fresh and exciting. People are eager to lose the holiday pounds and recommit to healthy living.
However, back-to-school time can actually be an even better time of year to make fitness goals. We tend to get lax with our schedules and our healthy habits during the summer, especially with travel and outdoor activities taking up more time.
Fall brings a new routine, and with it, a chance to assess where we are for the year and recommit to our goals. Here are 5 ways you can make fitness a priority this fall.
- Make a weekly workout calendar. As you put together your weekly family calendar, don’t forget to schedule in time for a workout each day. What is the best time of day for you to exercise? Where would you like to exercise? Which classes will you be attending? Write them down on the calendar and be sure to book your spot each week.
- Start weekly meal planning. We tend to get lazy with meal planning during the summer, choosing to eat out more often and letting the kids fend for themselves. (I’m not the only one who does that, right?) As the kids go back to school (or are working on virtual assignments at home), take a few minutes each morning to plan out meals for the day. Better yet, sit down on Sunday and spend an hour planning meals for the week. Make sure they are balanced and healthy with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat protein.
- Make new fitness goals. Look at your goals from January and see where you are. Then, decide what improvements still need to be made and write a new list of goals to accomplish by the end of the year. Having 4 months rather than a full year will help motivate you to take action!
- Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. In the summer, with the sun setting late in the evening, we tend to stay up later and sleep in as long as possible (or at least my kids do—I really just get less sleep during the summer). When school starts, make it a habit to go to bed earlier (say 9:30 pm) and wake up earlier (say 5:30 am) in order to get a head start on the day.
- Nail down your workout buddy. We all tend to stick to our fitness goals a little better when we have someone holding us accountable. Chances are you and your workout tribe went your separate ways during the summer as everyone’s travel schedules are different. Make sure to reconnect with your fitness friends and help each other stay on track.
Are you feeling ready for fall and getting into a routine again? Hopefully, these 5 tips will help you recommit to making fitness a priority and end the year on a high note. After all, with everything 2020 has thrown at us, one thing we CAN control is our own choices to live a healthy lifestyle and be the best version of ourselves!