As a new year begins, millions of people across the globe declare their New Year’s resolutions. We’ve all heard the cliché of exercise: “I’m going to get fit”, “I’m going to go to the gym everyday”, “I’m going to run a half marathon”. In reality, many of us stay in our comfortable and busy routines, sitting all day and forgetting all about our resolutions until next year. Here are a few tips on how to exercise sustainably and healthily for the busy CA community, turning a new leaf in 2026.
First, set specific goals. For any New Year’s resolution, setting specific goals motivates you by providing something measurable that you can check off and feel accomplished in completing. For example, changing your goal from “exercise more” to a specific objective such as “exercise for 30 minutes every afternoon” can help to turn an intangible, vague goal into something concrete that can also fit your daily schedule. Using specific language also helps avoid the dangers of saying “always” or “never”. All-or-nothing language creates a greater obligation to exercising and often results in goals that are too unrealistic. Furthermore, setting precise goals helps set up for success by encouraging you to think about what you ultimately want to achieve, and break it down into smaller steps that build on each other.
At the same time, it’s also important to not be too specific. Outlining a detailed workout for everyday of the week can work well for some but not for everyone. It’s important to find a balance between creating clear and achievable goals and having a flexible plan. Planning out your exercise by month can provide this flexibility while still working slowly but steadily towards your goals. Missing a few days or workouts is basically unavoidable due to the unexpected events, illness, and travel that spring up in our lives, so building flexibility into your plan can help keep you staying consistent.
Finally, if you’re looking for something new to get into or are unsure where to start with exercise, check out the BBC article “New year, new you? 21 ways to get fit in 2021”. The author provides a variety of different options for exercise, from Pilates to running a 5k. Taking into account different goals, time commitments, and long-term and short-term needs, the author provides a detailed list of activities and Youtube tutorials to motivate and guide you in the best ways to improve your fitness this year, even amidst a busy schedule.