This isn’t the typical New Year’s Resolution post declaring my New Years Resolutions. I have my own personal resolutions, goals, and dreams I want to achieve in 2017 but that is a post for another day.
This also isn’t the post to say that I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions.
Long term readers know New Year’s resolutions is a topic I’ve written about several times. I feel strongly about them and believe it’s important to share, most, if not every year. It’s also a reminder for myself!
So What is this Post about?
Every year on January 1st many people begin a journey to better themselves. They create New Year’s Resolutions that include anything from fitness goals, life goals, to work goals or chasing dreams. The majority of the population makes a resolution or goal they are looking to achieve in the new year.
According to studies, only 8% of people keep with their New Year’s resolutions. If you think about it, that is still 8% more than last year. That is over 59 million people who better themselves each year.
While people make many different resolutions, this post is more about running, fitness and gym related goals.
It is about the people that join a gym each year to achieve their goals.
It is also about the people judging those that are new to a fitness program.
Each year I see “in shape” or fitness oriented friends complain about their gyms are crowded on January 1st. I have even seen posts about how dumb having a New Years Resolution is. There is everything from how silly new people look at the gym or even photos of people working out for the first time.
Please remember if someone has not given you permission to include their photo on your blog or social media, you shouldn’t. It is never a good idea. It is never appropriate to take a photo of someone without their permission, especially to make fun of them.
I’m indifferent towards people who want to begin a new life on January 1st. I’m happy for them to make positive changes in their life. If they want to do it January 1st, great! If they want to do is June 23…also great! I don’t believe you need to wait until January 1st to make life changes and any calendar date will do but if you start your journey then, so be it!
As a member of a local gym, I can relate that sure, having more people can be an inconvenience because there are fewer machines available. The reality is everyone at the gym is paying for the same membership. No one is more entitled to a piece of equipment because you have been a gym member for 1 day or 1000. If a person “getting in your way” annoys you, purchase your own home gym equipment.
Every single person from an elite marathoner to a star quarterback started somewhere. Who knows where someone started, maybe it was with a New Years Resolution?
Judging someone based on their fitness level is ridiculous. When people first begin something, they are the most self-conscious.
Personally, I can remember the first time I went to the gym. I was 18 years old and was nervous the rest of the patrons were judging me. I tried every machine in the fitness center in 10 minutes. I had no idea what I was doing.
Gradually I found things that worked for me. The first few months I was hyper aware of everything and everyone. I had several thoughts including:
Was that person laughing? Must be at me…
Are those people chatting? They must be chatting about me…
When I go to a new class such as spin or strength training, I still have those thoughts.
So as you ring in the New Years, remember that a New Years resolution might not be your thing, but some people are trying to better themselves. Sure, some people might fail, but many will succeed. I encourage you to think about when you were first beginning your fitness journey and not be upset with others for attempting to begin their fitness journey.
Questions for you:
When did you start your fitness journey?
Do you have a New Years Resolution?
Happy 2017! When we encounter “new” folks in our fitness realm, it’s so important to be patient. I can see how it’s frustrating for gyms, studios, etc. to be full with people who make resolutions, but they’re getting out there, they are doing what they need to do … so go them! We were all at that starting point at one time.
I 100% agree with this. Last year, our first club run of the year was absolutely packed out. I mean, 500 people easily. We couldn’t even fit in our clubhouse! And then I heard some snarky people saying something along the lines of “bloody new years resolutions…these people will all be gone in two weeks”. I got so annoyed! There were several first-timers I met on that run who are still with us and have made a huge change in their fitness, as well as getting involved in our community! So I have no time at all for snarky better-than-thou attitudes!
Great post. I don’t do new years resolutions. If you want to do something to better yourself get started straight away don’t wait for that enthusiasm to pass.
Oh yes!! I always have a New Years Resolution. Most years, even two. One is a very detailed goal, with an action plan on how and when I will reach it. The other is a crazy dreamy out of reach goal, that is more about where it will take me and what I will discover along the way, then actually reaching it!
Seriously- thank you for this!! Once upon a time, I joined a gym on January 1st and the ridicule I heard from the already gym members almost made me quit! They never said anything directly TO me, but the attitude and comments about “all the new people” was hard to hear day after day. I vowed to prove them wrong and I did and it was awesome. I don’t care if someone starts today, or a random Tuesday in July, EVERYONE deserves support, not shame.
I agree completely, I think it’s a great that there are so many new people in the gym in January (or whenever) trying to better themselves and if others have to wait a few mins to use a machine, then that’s really not a big deal. It might be nice to offer help or just be welcoming to new people instead 🙂
It’s this type of attitude that keeps people from joining running clubs and gyms. It’s intimidating to be the noob and we’ve all been the noob. Now it is our turn to welcome new runners, etc into our clubs and gyms.
The road is plenty big enough for all of us.
Well said & I agree whole heartedly. I started my fitness journey on April 1 a few years ago. I’m forever grateful for those that encourage me along the way.
That is so great to hear and congrats on keeping on!
I have lots of resolutions lol. But I also tend to obsess and stick to what I say I’m gonna do.
Ha that works for you though Rob. I’m excited to see how your training goes this year!
Snaps for this post! I think you totally have to be nice and welcoming to new gym members or club members-having a good experience may make them more likely to stick with whatever their resolution, goal, or plan is. I’m all for anyone trying to achieve a goal or be in better health.
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I don’t believe in resolutions but won’t get in the way of someone who has made one. I also don’t belong to a gym anymore so there is that 🙂
Personally when I chose to start my journey it was about being ready. Never happened as part of a resolution – I honestly just remember lacing up shoes and running one day in the spring – but here I am about 10 years later and have kept 80 pounds off. The thing I think about resolutions is that the mental aspect has to be there in order for someone to commit 100% and not give up. If January 1st is the day that helps you make a change for the better for the rest of your life then go for it! However I think people shouldn’t hold themselves back and if come November they are ready, go for it! I think constantly evaluating the path you are on in life and making changes to improve health and happiness is a must.
I just continue my “resolutions” year after year and I try to do something to better myself. And so far I think I’m doing all right. I don’t judge anyone going to the gym at the beginning of the year. Everyone starts somewhere. I am all for people making positive changes. I know how it’s enhanced my life so I definitely wish that on others 🙂
I made goals for January only. I think these smaller goals will help me this year. I don’t want to think about a whole year in advance, I simply want to start as I intend to finish 🙂
I think making short goals first is so smart. Best of luck in 2017!
I had 2 New Year’s Resolutions from a while ago (one from 2007 and the other from 2008, I think!) I have stuck to both since then…one was to stop drinking soda, the other was to stop eating fast food (not that I did a lot of either but I wanted to be healthier).
I am so proud that so many years later, I haven’t broken those two resolutions! This year, I’ve decided to set career goals, reading goals, and travel goals–I want to continue to prove that I can stick to it! 🙂
Good luck with yours!