With each new year comes more opportunities to motivate yourself in new ways. Whether you’re already crushing your new year’s fitness goals or you’re looking to try something new, wellness challenges may be helpful to keep your New Year’s resolutions on track.
Focus on realistic and small steps that already fit into your life. This way, you’ll be more likely to make progress toward your New Year’s resolutions and stay motivated all year long!
Extra Tip: The free Active Marion Project App 2 can track your step progress AND you can join in on a quarterly wellness challenge! Launch your 2025 fitness goals and get in on adding steps to earn rewards while moving your body today!
The Power of Wellness Challenges
Wellness challenges may provide structure, accountability, motivation and a sense of accomplishment!
Just like the AMP Wellness Challenges, wellness challenges are even more powerful and motivating when they’re tied to something personal that aligns with your goals or interests. This quarterly challenge developed by the Marion County Hospital District uses friendly competition to encourage people to engage in physical activity in our communities. It all works with your smart device to track steps in the AMP App 2.
Here are some benefits of participating in wellness challenges:
- Adapt the challenge to your fitness level
- Track your progress in the app
- Increase your motivation and focus
- Find accountability and support with friends and community members
- Build a consistent habit
- Get out of your comfort zone
- Celebrate your wins
- Improve your mental health
Setting Realistic Goals
If you’ve ever booked an exercise class, one of the first questions you get asked is “what is your goal?” Understanding your reason why may help you stay focused and motivated to keep moving forward.
A SMART goal is a way to break down your goals into clear and actionable steps. Try writing these steps down.
- Specific: What do you want to achieve?
- Measurable: Figure out how to track your progress.
- Achievable: Make sure the goal is realistic for your circumstances.
- Relevant: Select a goal that’s in line with your fitness objectives, overall health and priorities.
- Time-Bound: Give yourself a deadline to achieve your goal.
Creating a Fitness Plan
Once you’ve figured out your “why” and set your goal, then the next step is to create a fitness plan to help you get started.
When making a plan, some people are motivated by a structured schedule while others find windows of time when it may work best for their lifestyle. Consider using an app, calendar or a journal to map out when you’re going to be active. Figure out how many days per week you can realistically commit to working out and stick to it.
Overcoming Obstacles
As with starting anything new, it’s important to be realistic about what might literally trip you up on your path to achieving your fitness goals. First, be kind to yourself! Fitness goals are meant to push you toward growth. As obstacles are inevitable, challenges are part of the process and persisting through the difficult times may help to make you stronger both physically and mentally.
Sustain Progress Beyond the New Year
Once you’ve achieved your wellness challenge, celebrate your progress and achievements! Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come and what it took to get there. Keep your motivation up with new challenges or different fitness classes to push yourself to the next level. Once you’ve accomplished one challenge it may become more natural to incorporate fitness into your everyday life.
Start Your Own Wellness Challenge
Participate in an AMP wellness challenge anytime to help you stay consistent with exercise and physical activity this year! Each quarter, residents can sign up to walk and get active alongside their friends and neighbors.
Download the free AMP 2 app on your mobile device and earn one point for every 100 steps you walk in a day! Limitations apply. It all works with your existing fitness tracker via Apple Health or Google Fit Health. Each quarter badges are awarded based on your points. You can also join or create a team and spread the word on your progress via social media! Don’t forget to tag us on Facebook or Instagram!