We all know with the start of the new year comes pressure to set new goals, especially those surrounding health. This can be a daunting experience for a lot of people, especially if you are new to focussing on your health. But fear not, there are a few things you can do to help with motivation. We want to share some tips and tricks that can help keep you on track to achieving your health goals for 2025.Â
Common obstacles
Setting yourself health goals is a great first step towards a healthier lifestyle, but it’s also important to understand some common obstacles that can get in the way of your goals. Fatigue, joint pain and the fear of injury can stop us from wanting to progress with our goals and hinder our motivation.
Fatigue can make it difficult to find the energy to work out or meal prep healthy dishes. Joint pain can limit physical activity, whether it is age related, you are recovering from an injury, or you suffer with underlying conditions. If you’re new to exercise or returning from an injury, the fear of hurting yourself can cause a lack of motivation and prevent you from working towards your goals.
Recognising these potential obstacles is a step in the right direction. Understanding why you may be feeling this way and working on ways to improve can help you achieve your goals.
Stratergies to overcome challenges
As with every challenge, it can also be overcome, if you have the right tools and guidance. Here are a few things that may help you overcome your obstacles when trying to reach health goals.Â
Start with low-impact activities. If you are new to working out or maybe you have had a long period off, expecting to run 10K and lift heavy weights is most likely unreasonable. So set yourself up for success, take this slow and easy to begin with and build yourself up. Maybe work on walking a certain distance, or run for a certain amount of time, it doesn’t matter about your pace but rather that you are moving your body. If you enjoy lifting weights, start light and focus on the muscle you are trying to work. Over working yourself from the get-go can lead to injuries and cause you to feel defeated.Â
Partnering with a physiotherapist to ensure safe progress
Safety should always be a priority when it comes to achieving fitness goals. This is especially true if you have pre-existing conditions or injuries.
Physiotherapists assess an individual’s need, provide guidance giving you knowledge and understanding of your body and can create tailored exercise plans to ensure proper form and technique. Physios can help identify any weakness, potential risks, address underlining issues and monitor progress. They are there to empower you with advice, education, and appropriate treatment. By doing this, they can reduce pain and maximise function.
By working with a physiotherapist, individuals can gain confidence, have the knowledge to exercise safely, reduce the risk of injury and maximise their chances of success.
Focus on consistency rather than intensity
Consistency is key! We know that you want to see results quickly when setting health goals, but extreme diets and intense workouts are hard to maintain in the long run. Focussing on making small consistent changes can help you achieve your health goals. This could be incorporating regular exercise into your routine such as a daily walk, or yoga or going to the gym a few times a week on dedicated days. Gradual changes to your diet such as introducing more fruit & vegetables or adding more protein can help more compared to drastic changes. Meal prepping is always a great idea for those who are on the go. Focussing on consistency rather than intensity can help you maintain your health goals, leading to better long-term health and wellbeing.Â
Quick tips
- Join a class: This could be spin, yoga, Pilates, bootcamp, dance… anything that you think you might enjoy!Â
- Find an accountability partner. Having someone you can go to the gym with or go for a walk with can help you hold accountability for your fitness goals.Â
- Focus on progress not perfection. Take things slower and reward yourself when you hit little milestones. No one’s health journey is linear so don’t be afraid of setbacks – just keep working towards your goals.Â
By setting realist goals, focussing on consistency, and addressing potential obstacles, you can stay motivated with your health goals, creating a healthy lifestyle that supports your wellbeing.Â