You kicked off 2023 with all the gusto and vigour of a person possessed!
You were up at the crack of dawn, out running/walking/lifting weights/jumping/swimming/anything at all that you tried, on the 2nd January. You make it! And arrived home quite puffed, but satisfied, you had started!
Fast forward to the second month of the year, and there is a nagging feeling in your head that things have gone off track, only a month ago there was plenty of motivation, but today, today the aches and pains are starting to outweigh the want for ‘the six pack’, ‘the bikini body’, the days seem to be getting shorter, it is that bit cooler in the morning, and being back at work, kids at school and sport all seems to be hitting at once. It just got that little bit tougher.
And now fast forward to today.
July, already. And that big burst of motivation at the beginning of the year is a memory, but the feeling of ‘oh I still want to get fit and healthy’ is still there, although it may have turned from one of hope in January to a feeling of futility now.
Although, you need fear not. Not all is lost. It isn’t futile.
There are still almost six months left in 2023. And hey depending on how old you are right now, you likely have anywhere between 60 and 10 years left all up hey? (Just joking here, none of us know this for sure, which is sort of what I am getting at.)
With attempting to start a program in January each year there are some things that don’t tend to go in most people’s favour, even though they look like they might actually help!
You aren’t too busy. It is summer, the office is closed, the worksite is shut down, you are on holiday, it is warm, the days are long.
Seems the best time to start exercising right?
Well it is a little easier than other times, but not the best time.
Because it is easier when life gets a bit challenging it can be pretty easy to push off the ‘new’ habit. Kids back at school, work back on, sports again, club commitments, meetings, bills to pay, maybe looking for a new job, starting a new project, the days seem to be that little bit (or a lot!) shorter, just all those little day to day things that weren’t on the radar in January all start when things ‘get back to normal’.
So here we are, today, July, and the burst of motivation, the warm sunny mornings, the long afternoons, the salads are all way back in January.
But why now?
Well, from my past experiences, I have watched people start and fall off in January every year so many times. Although, incredible things have come from people that have started in July.
The ones that start in July are starting when things are already hard. It is cold; the days are short, EOFY made work crazy busy, there are kids sports and your own club commitments, meetings, zoom calls, lectures, a new course starting, the list goes on! Then throw in an exercise program!!!
Where do people find this time??!!!
They don’t, they make it!
All of those other commitments are important, and they are important because YOU have to do them. So to make the most of YOU, you will need to look after you.
And that leads to why July is better than January.
The January kick off can be because we want to fit in skinny jeans, look good in a suit, etc. All what are considered superficial outcomes, appearance based.
The July start is because you want more, you want better for you, for your family, for those around you. Sure you will likely end up looking different too, but it isn’t the main driver. And when you make yourself that priority, you realise your importance to the world. Then you make that time and it actually sticks!
Because it is easier to stick with something that you started when it was already a bit tough, when times were cold, busy, dark. As the days get longer, warmer, some of the work things ease up, the job changes, kids don’t need to be shipped around as much, the course is finished. Well, working out just got easier!
If you hadn’t started in winter you might look at it as something you will just wait for January to do. And then again, it would be another year, but this one would be different right? To the last however many? Right?
No, it won’t be.
It will be if you start this month and by January have six months of fitness under your belt though.
So hit the button below to book your FREE No Sweat Intro and talk with us about how it can happen for you!