Is it just me, or is there something so magical about a fresh start? Even though it means the end of a weekend, I’ve always loved Mondays! It’s a clean slate and an opportunity to start anew, and every Monday morning it almost feels like the possibilities for success are endless. So when I realized the new year meant the start to a whole new DECADE?! Well, I was just downright giddy.

As cliche, overdone, and dramatized as the New Year and New Year’s Resolutions are, it really is an incredible opportunity to kick off new goals, create better habits, and get that fresh start we all crave.

5 Favorite Tips for Staying Motivated to Work Out All Year

Outfit Details:

Reebok Crop Top, Reebok Black leggings

The trickiest part of the new year comes from the wrap up of the holiday season?a seemingly unofficial nutrition free-for-all where hitting the gym takes a back seat behind about a million and one other things. But how do you find motivation amongst mountains of yummy leftovers and a house with a serious holiday hangover?! Here are my top tips so you can kick off the new decade the right way.

Dump the Leftovers

Why do we feel so compelled to keep around the week old stale Christmas cookies, store the last few scoops of Grandma’s mashed potatoes, and pick at that old apple pie for days or weeks after the holidays end?! Of course, I hate wasting food, but keeping those sugary treats or caloric bomb carbs around is an absolute disaster for New Year’s health goals. Enjoy those yummy treats and comfort foods on the holidays, but once Christmas is officially over, introduce those leftovers to the trash can. You don’t need ’em!

Splurge on a Killer New Workout Outfit

Click here to see my favorite workout gear ??

Look good = feel good. Got a few gift cards for Christmas? Cash ’em in for an amazing new sports bra, a great fitting pair of leggings, and a comfy, durable pair of shoes, and I assure you it makes ALL the difference in your willingness to hit the gym. If nothing else, you’ll want to make your way to the gym just for the opportunity to wear your new gear, and we all know, getting there is half the battle!

Buddy Up

Click here for a great buddy workout ??

Possibly the best part of revamping your health + fitness goals at the start of the new year? Just about everyone else is doing the same dang thing! So finding an accountability buddy is a piece of cake. Finding someone who will accompany you to the gym, encourage you to put down the cookie, or just be a listening ear when you need to vent about how hard this transformation journey really is is SO important to long-term success. If you’re married or in a relationship, try encouraging your partner to join you. Having someone in close proximity makes it easy, and accomplishing a goal together is great for building up and bomb proofing a relationship.

Make It an Appointment

One of the biggest hurdles in sticking to a gym routine during the holidays or beginning of the new year is lack of time. Doesn’t it feel like we’re pulled in 200 different directions from about October to February?! Writing your gym time down in your planner or setting it as an appointment in your calendar will not only remind you to go, but it’ll eventually trick your brain into thinking it IS a must-do, unbreakable appointment. I’ve done this for years, and I promise it’s an amazing tool!

Change It Up

Guys, we’re creatures of habit. And when life gets busy, chaotic, and completely stressful, what do we do?! We default to our simplest habits. If we haven’t made fitness or making healthy choices a habit during these crazy holiday months, chaos can be almost damning for transformation success. So how do we fix this? Change up your routine! If you haven’t built a health + fitness habit yet, start with changing your current habits. Drive a different way to work or pack a lunch with just one extra piece of fruit or a handful of veggies. If you’re short on time try cooking dinners on a sheet pan (click here for my top tips for sheet pan meals). These small changes may seem insignificant, but they’re essential for changing up your routine and creating a habit of health.

This time of year can make achieving transformation goals so difficult, but it’s also an amazing opportunity for a clean slate and a fresh start! What goals are you chasing after in 2020? Tell me in the comments below!

xo,

Related reading:

12 Lessons Failure Taught Me
How SMART Are Your Goals?
6 Secrets to Success: How to Reach Your Goals This Year
Just say NO! My Less Is More Resolution
Reignite Your Fire to Achieve Your Goals!