At the start of the year, you made yourself a promise: This is the year. The year you’d reclaim your strength, drop those extra pounds, and take back your health. But here we are, with just two months left. For many, those months seem like a short sprint toward the holidays, filled with excuses to push health goals off just one more time. But there’s good news: these last two months can still make a big impact on your fitness journey. If you use them well, you’ll go into the next year already miles ahead.
Let’s talk about how to finish 2024 strong and honor that commitment you made to yourself.
Step 1: Reevaluate Your Goals
In January, we all set lofty goals. Maybe yours was to lose 20 pounds or bench press a certain weight. With time dwindling, adjust your focus to realistic, actionable targets. This isn’t about lowering your standards; it’s about honing in on achievable steps that set you up for a big payoff. Here’s how to look at it:
1. Define a clear outcome – such as losing 5 pounds, running a mile without stopping, or committing to three workouts a week.
2. Choose your focus – mobility, strength, cardio endurance, or overall weight loss. When you focus on one, you’re more likely to make measurable progress.
Step 2: Set Non-Negotiables
Time is limited, and this means no half-measures. Set non-negotiable rules that work with your lifestyle. These can be simple but powerful, like:
– Exercise at least 3 times per week – This might mean you need to carve out time early in the morning or late at night. Make it happen.
– Make healthier eating choices 80% of the time – No need for a crash diet, but make those meals count with nutrient-dense choices.
– Commit to 10 minutes of daily movement – Stretch, walk, or work on mobility every day. It’s the small daily habits that add up.
These habits are realistic but impactful and will get you closer to where you want to be.
Step 3: Stop Waiting for Motivation
The reality is, motivation is rarely there when you need it. By now, you may already know: fitness isn’t about being motivated all the time; it’s about being disciplined. Every day, show up for that person you want to become.
– Take it one workout at a time. Don’t think about the whole month or year; focus on just one day at a time.
– Remember your ‘why’. Why did you make this promise? To feel better? To be healthier for your family? Whatever it was, keep it front and center.
Step 4: Find Support
Accountability matters. Whether it’s in a gym, with a fitness krew, or a family member who’s on board, having someone to check in with keeps you committed. It’s much harder to skip that workout when you know someone is going to ask how it went.
Even better, find a krew of like-minded people working toward similar goals. Having a community can push you further, helping you enjoy the journey rather than viewing it as a chore.
Step 5: Plan Ahead for the Holidays
The holidays don’t have to mean a full stop on your fitness goals. Here’s the truth: a few holiday meals won’t derail your progress if you keep consistent leading up to and around them. So give yourself grace, but keep showing up.
– Plan your workouts around gatherings and travel.
– Bring healthier options to events if possible, or choose mindfully when you’re there.
– Stick to your non-negotiables to keep building momentum through the season.
The Bottom Line
Two months is more time than you think. By setting your sights on realistic goals, committing to daily habits, and finding accountability, you can accomplish far more than you’d expect. Then, when January 1 rolls around, you won’t be starting from scratch; you’ll already be on your way.
Remember: you made that promise to yourself for a reason.
