Only 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days. Less than 10% accomplish their goals (Columbia University).
I didn’t set new year’s resolutions this year. I was just feeling too overwhelmed to even attempt to make a list or commit to anything. But that didn’t mean that I just crawled into a hole, despite wanting to at some moments, and didn’t at least think about the year ahead. Despite intentionally not writing down any goals to attempt to stick to, my head still swirled around thoughts of working out and eating healthy.
I decided if I could maintain what I was doing as far as workouts then I would call that a win. If I ended up adding extra steps in, great. But I didn’t put the pressure on myself to increase anything or start or stop any habits. Maintain became something I would challenge myself to do.
Maintain seemed do-able. It didn’t mean changing anything and I was perfectly fine with that. It fit well with the state of mind I was in where adding anything to my plate was just too much.
January brought the normal crowd to the gym for that time of year. Those who, unlike me, did actually make resolutions. My normal workout classes were more crowded as people tried to stick to their 2025 goals. While people all around me were setting new personal records on the weight floor and treadmills, I continued with maintaining.
Sure enough, as February rolled around my gym was already back to the normal crowds. The regulars I was used to. The people who had likely set goals of the early morning 5am workouts I am used to and had maintained, fizzled out after only about a month.
This got me thinking about staying motivated; particularly during the winter months.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had incredibly cold weather including snow that kept schools closed for multiple days. Weather that makes me want to eat warm food like hearty soup and not something seemingly healthy like a salad. Weather that makes the idea of heading to the gym pretty unappealing when you just want to stay put. Even a garage workout, though convenient, isn’t desirable because it’s so cold.
It’s hard enough to stick to goals in ideal circumstances. Throw in hurdles like weather and possibly winter blues, it becomes incredibly difficult.
How can we stay motivated during these winter months?
I actually think I have an answer. Not the answer, as there is not some one-size-fits-all revelation I am about to share; but a possible answer.
Focus on maintaining and nothing more.
This isn’t just for the gym but for any aspect of life.
If you are feeling a little sluggish from the winter weather and not quite as motivated as maybe you started out being when your resolutions or goals were fresh, give yourself grace. Maybe your goals were in the biting off more than you can actually chew category.
What if instead of you trying to motivate yourself to some lofty goal, you reflected on what is actually realistic? What if you then just maintained what is realistic versus burning the candle at both ends and exhausting yourself?
An actual example of something I have been doing is around wanting to get more steps in. But when I set a goal of 10,000 in a day it can leave me feeling bad when I don’t hit it. Instead, I tell myself to just get more steps in. Not a number I have to achieve. I then consider it a win when I do a lap around my building (indoors) at work. I timed it and it takes 2 minutes and 30 seconds to walk at a moderate pace. This is super do-able to do a couple times a day at work.
I not only have been doing this for my workouts, maintaining and being realistic versus trying to increase anything; but also when it comes to things like making dinner and cleaning the house. I would love to all of a sudden have the time and energy to prep an entire week of meals each Sunday. But I know it’s just not gonna happen. Instead, I will pat myself on the back for just maintaining my usual make some meals, figure some out on the fly approach.
Whether you set 2025 goals or took a break from lists this year like I did; give yourself the permission to maintain, be realistic and keep the wheels running on life versus constantly trying to outdo yourself.
Maintaining doesn’t mean you failed. It actually might mean you keep chugging along versus totally fizzling out like I noticed happen with many gym-goers already this year. It is better to go to the gym some days or make your bed some days or cook dinner some days than no days at all.
If you find yourself with more time and energy some days, great; make those the days you go all out. But it’s not realistic for that to be your every day. Be realistic and maintain; let that be what you aim to achieve most days.
RELATED:
- The Winter Blues are More Common in Women Than Men
- New Year’s resolutions often don’t last. Here’s why they fail.
PIN THIS!
Read more of Stephanie’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
