Working Out in 2021: Our Top Fitness Tips

Our Top Tips for Working out in 2021

There’s a certain magic that comes with the start of a new year. For most of us, it sparks a desire to embrace healthier habits – whether that’s doing 10 minutes of exercise a day or eating enough fruit and veg. This year, we'll need to protect and prioritise our health more than ever, whilst adopting positive habits. Exercise plays a key role in achieving this, which is why we want to help you with working out in 2021.

But getting started and staying motivated is not always easy; in fact, it’s considered the most challenging part for many, and this is further exacerbated when you throw lockdown into the mix. So, to help you on your quest towards getting fit for the new year, we’ve put together some useful tips below – from setting appropriate goals to finding activewear that makes you feel empowered.

Establishing a workout plan for YOU

The main reason we lose interest and motivation when starting our fitness journeys is that we begin without having a proper plan in place – yet creating a well thought out exercise plan will end up saving precious time in the long run.

In addition, it’s important to remember that working out won’t improve our health overnight, so creating a clear and realistic schedule will help us stay focused and motivated. To create your ideal workout plan you will need to:

• Set your goal: Understand if you want to lose weight, build muscle or simply keep healthy, this will help you find tailor-made exercises that help you to achieve your goals faster.
• Make your goals measurable: Once you have set your specific goal, designate time on your weekly calendar for exercise. If you can only exercise 1‐2 days a week, then focus on full‐body workouts. With less time available, you’ll want to make sure that all muscle groups are strengthened and exercised.
• Make your goals attainable: Having overly ambitious objectives will make you more likely to quit. To be successful, it’s important to set realistic goals. Make sure you allow your body to rest, as overtraining can leave you drained or injured. Also, you don’t need to deprive yourself of that bar of chocolate; pick a cheat day and don’t feel guilty.

How to stay motivated

If you’ve ever started a fitness journey and then quit shortly after, you are not alone. Staying motivated can be very challenging – particularly when we’re all stuck at home at the moment. Here are our top tips to help you stay motivated:

Start with simple goals before setting your sights on future objectives. Gradually moving towards long‐term goals whilst conquering smaller ones will make you feel more satisfied and motivated to continue. A short‐term goal could include working out three times a week or running a mile every day, while a long‐term goal could be to run a half marathon next year or lift a certain amount of weight.

Try out different exercises to find the one that’s most enjoyable – whether that’s a 20‐minute run or a dance workout indoors. Remember, exercise doesn’t have to be boring – you are more likely to stick with a fitness program if you are having fun.

Finding a workout buddy can make you feel less alone on this journey. Thankfully, there are many platforms that allow you to invite all the friends you want to virtually join your training and make it more exciting. Plus, you can egg each other on and keep each other motivated by doing so! Despite the national lockdown, social media means that you don't have to be alone when working out in 2021!

Wearing flattering and fun clothes can increase your confidence and overall performance, as well as boost your motivation to work out in the first place. Putting on some fashionable and functional activewear can automatically make you feel more active and ready to work out.

To save time and always be ‘’workout ready’’, prepare your exercise clothes the night before. If you train during your lunch break consider putting them on first thing in the morning as this will help you switch between tasks quickly and with ease.

With many of us spending the bulk of our days at home, creating a dedicated space for your workouts will help you get into ‘’workout mode’’ faster. It doesn’t have to be fancy or kitted out with the latest equipment – but as long as you have enough space to lay down an exercise mat then you are good to go!

Knowing you’ve got the correct equipment will make you more motivated to exercise in the first place – and it doesn’t have to cost the earth to get kitted out properly. You’ll find second hand sports equipment on Preloved that can be delivered to your door.

After each exercise session, take a few minutes to be proud of yourself – something that can help with long‐term commitment. Rewards can help in boosting your motivation. Sometimes all the incentive you need is to acknowledge your progress after reaching even the smallest milestone; then, when you reach a medium or long term goal, treat yourself to something tangible – like a pair of walking shoes or a meal from your favourite takeout!

If there’s anything 2020 taught us, it’s that working out doesn’t need to happen at the gym to be effective. Follow our tips to create your personalised 2021 fitness plan, and explore more wellbeing tips and tricks on the Preloved Blog.

Don't forget to check out our Health & Leisure category also. Good luck with working out in 2021 everyone!