7 Easy and Effective Fitness Resolutions

The start of a new year often feels like a chance for a fresh start and a great opportunity to develop new routines. Many people pledge to exercise more, eat healthier and improve their overall health. Of course, it's far simpler to make resolutions than it is to fulfill them, leading many of us to give up on our intentions and fall back into our old routines. “Instead of setting large overwhelming goals, set your sights on smaller objectives,” explains PIH Health Physician Michael Galbreath MD.

Here are 7 easy but effective resolutions to make this year:

1. Sit less each day. Most of us sit way too much, even if we get in our daily exercise. Aim to get up and move more throughout the day. Set a goal of getting up for 5 minutes every hour to stand, stretch or walk around.
2. Take a daily walk. You don’t need to commit to walking for a certain amount of time or mileage. Just take a walk at least once a day, no matter where you go or how long you do it for. Before you know it, you’ll likely be walking longer than you did when you started.
3. Do something fun. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore and it shouldn’t be. Instead, find something you love to do. Whether you enjoy dancing, hiking or site seeing, you’re more likely to exercise when you are having fun.
4. Try something new. Tired of the same old routine? Add a new twist to your workouts by trying something you’ve never done before. Try a new class at the gym or ask a friend if you can join them with a workout they do.
5. Make a plan. Your health is as much a priority as anything else that fills your day, so give it the recognition it deserves. Schedule time on your calendar or write out a fitness plan to keep yourself accountable
6. Look for alternatives. To move around, you don't need to have the best tools. There are plenty of alternatives to gym equipment such as body weight exercises. Even if it’s not perfect, moving a little bit is better than doing nothing.
7. Add it all up. Don’t think you need to carve out an hour each day to work out in order for it to be effective. Any activity you do throughout the day is good for you, so sneak in a few minutes whenever you can to be more active, it all adds up over the course of the day.

Make time in the new year to talk with your physician. Visit PIHHealth.org/Find-a-Doctor to schedule your next visit.