(Photo: Christopher Chan)

So my new year’s resolution is to be more active, to get in better shape and to enjoy life more. It’s kind of a cliché as this is one of the typical new year’s resolutions that everyone has. But I am determined to do it this year. I am a strong believer in making new year’s resolutions because by making a resolution it gives you time to self-reflect on the last year’s accomplishments and failures, and to find room for self-improvement.

When I look back on the last year, I really have accomplished lots in my life and I am very happy about it. However, I found that in the last year I wasn’t as active as I have been in the past. I am sure that I am not the only one. So this is why I have decided to try and get more active. I also plan to enjoy life more because everyone can always have a bit more fun in their life.

Now I have (as many others have) made the resolution, the problem is, of course, keeping it.   Every January the gym is just packed full of people and after a few months it just dies off.  I hope I won’t become one of those people.

Here are my steps to keeping your new year’s resolution to be more active. Step one, get some nice workout clothes. When you look good you will feel good, this will bring more confidence to your workout, which will make you workout harder and help you loose those few extra pounds that you gained over the Christmas months. I’m not say that you should go out and buy $500 worth of clothing, just buy a new pair of Lululemon pants or a New Lululemon tank top. You will really see the difference.

The second step, is to find a buddy or a partner to workout with. It is great to get your friends or your significant other involved with your new year’s resolution, the two of you can make the same resolution together. This step is crucial, because the two of you will be able to motivate each other to workout. Keeping your motivation is very hard, don’t let each other skip a day or quite. This leads to the next step.

Make a schedule and stick to it. Your schedule doesn’t need to be to hard core, but you need to make one. My schedule is like this: Monday, cardio; Tuesday, swimming; Wednesday, yoga; Thursday, swimming; Friday, cardio; Saturday weights; Sunday, rest. Don’t push yourself to hard, make sure you have at least one rest day.

The final step is make some goals to work for, this could be to lose 10 pounds, or to be able to bench press 100lbs, or to be able to run on the treadmill for 30 minutes without getting exhausted, or even six-pack abs. Make sure you set a goal to work towards, and after you have achieved your goal make sure you do your best to maintain or to improve on it.

Happy New Year’s everyone. Best wishes in the future.