Winter Workouts

4.3

We're well into January, and if you haven't put together some wellness goals for 2017, there's no time like the present. Maybe you're into making resolutions (I'm not) and already have a list you're working on. If so, keep it short and doable, to be sure you actually achieve what you set out to do.

For me, I like to set event goals like specific runs and obstacle course events. Within those larger (attainable) goals are subsets of training, workouts and focus that I'll need to accomplish along the way. Having large goals and subset goals keeps me invested in my wellness and busy at being healthy throughout the year.

And right now, the necessary winter workouts I need will get my cardio and strength and stretching routines growing in frequency and intensity. I have several tools: Spartan Race emails (they call them the Workout of the Day), FitStar from Fitbit (a great app which customizes body-weight training exercises for your fitness level and outlook), and Darebee (one of my favorite workout websites to return to again and again.)

A common theme with these three awesome resources is that they all focus on body-weight workouts (no equipment or dumbbells or exercise machines needed.) I really appreciate body-weight workouts because they totally take away any excuses for our workouts. No gym to travel to, no lines to wait in...

So set your goals, identify your workouts, and get moving this winter. Be realistic and make sure your wellness road map for 2017 is something you can achieve, and maybe we'll all look back 11 months from now with some joy and gratitude for the year we had.

By the Way

You could follow the wisdom of creating SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Sensitive. Make sure goals have details in them which show progress:

• Specific (where, exactly what, quantities,durations)
• Measurable (be sure you can measure the specific things you lay out)
• Attainable (be sure that your goals stretch you, but are still doable, make them something you can definitely work into your daily life)
• Realistic (be sure your goals represent the right next steps for your wellness journey, not something that is so big you won't get there)
• Time-Sensitive (put a date on it, and put dates on progress points along the way.)