January means many among us are setting new targets in a bid to improve fitness, but most people are likely to give up on their New Year’s Resolutions within two weeks.
Fitness is built over long periods of consistency so any gains made in 14 days will be quickly reversed if you quit.
So what are some simple New Year’s Resolutions that are actually worth an athlete’s time? Built for Athletes takes a look.
Make A Manageable Increase In Volume
If you only train twice a week and your New Year’s Resolution is to start training six times a week, it’s pretty likely you’re going to fail. Adding volume is a relatively sure-fire way to get fitter though, so if you can find a time during the week that you could add a short session or even just extend one of your sessions by 20 minutes, this could have an impact over time.
Build Conditioning Work Into Your Routine
One of the sins most athletes are guilty of is skipping out on basic conditioning work they know could help them stay healthy and make marginal gains. Whether you’d like to add in a core workout or a yoga session to your regular week, find a
window that you know you can commit to and tally off the number of weeks you get the training done. Keeping a note of your consistency will be rewarding and help make sure you don’t fall off the wagon.
Set An Achievable Target That Excites You
How much your resolution motivates you is a key indicator of how likely you are to stick to it. Picking a target that excites you and will be rewarding is important in increasing your fitness.
Get Better Sleep
If you know you’re guilty of not getting enough sleep, that’s a simple way you can improve your fitness. Good quality sleep is the most important element of the recovery process and will help your body adapt and improve. If there’s something you know is holding your bedtime routine back, make it your target to iron it
out. Whether that’s giving up caffeine in the evenings or forcing yourself into bed 30 minutes earlier, it’s a resolution that as well as making you fitter could improve your mood and make you live longer.
