Let’s be honest. The reality of working out for the traditional New Year’s resolution almost never fails. Something went wrong somewhere and now you’re sitting on your lazy ass reading this article trying to figure out how you can start exercising again and again. Here is a trap. Why wait a whole new year to make a decision that benefits you from the moment you accept the challenge? Regardless of when you start, getting the daily exercise you need will only lead to a healthier you.

Goals. Everyone needs them; otherwise we would work hard and not strive for anything. The key to successful goal execution is setting a goal within reason. For example, how many kilos you would like to lose. Losing 20 pounds in one day is obscenely unreasonable; however, losing 20 pounds in 2 weeks may be a bit easier to achieve. Remember, if you think your goal may be out of reach, it most likely is. Don’t set yourself (a goal) for failure. One thing to keep in mind when trying to achieve this goal is to be patient.

Dedication. Figure out what works best for you when it comes to staying motivated. Once you figure it out, you can use it for your own benefit. Either by writing it on sticky notes and posting them everywhere or by putting an ideal body image of what you want for yourself on the mirror. Whatever it may be; let it be a constant reminder that you deserve the best and healthiest version of yourself. Personally, my emotions are what keep me going. With bad breakups and stressful schoolwork piling up, hitting the gym is a release from all that emotional tension building up inside. In a sense, it’s my psychiatrist, my punching bag, my motivation: it keeps me dedicated to my relationship with exercise.

Achievement. If there’s that feeling that money can’t buy, it’s the feeling you get when you achieve your goal. Look in the mirror and discover the new you. You’ve lost 20 kilos in areas you couldn’t imagine and look how many pant sizes you’ve dropped! But wait, there’s more! As you look in the mirror, keep in mind that internally, your body is becoming healthier. You are boosting your immune system and you are becoming stronger than you were before. Did you know that running 30 minutes a day can not only help you lose weight, but it can also help you fight disease? Diseases such as: osteoporosis, hypertension and even the infamous diabetes. Some of these diseases are life-threatening; Don’t you want to live long enough to see your own grandchildren?

impulse. Simply put, keep up with training. Don’t stop once you’ve reached your goal. Keep driving and exceeding your expectations. As the old saying goes: “If you don’t use it, you lose it!” Just like a second language, if you don’t continue to use it, you will eventually forget it. Exercising is the same way. Once you stop exercising and go back to your bad eating habits, you will more than likely regain your hard-earned weight. Whether it’s the holidays, an injury, or a vacation, it’s easy to get off track. We know from Isaac Newton that an object at rest stays at rest, so put down the computer, tablet, or smartphone you’re using, get active, and exercise!