A Year in Review: Reflecting on 2024

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back on your fitness journey. Whether you crushed your goals or faced some challenges along the way, taking a moment to reflect can help you celebrate your progress and set yourself up for success in the coming year. Here’s how to do a simple review:

1. Review Your Goals: Accomplishments & Challenges

Start by looking at the fitness goals you set at the beginning of the year. Did you want to run a 5K? Build strength? Lose weight? Take a moment to evaluate your progress. Be honest with yourself about what you accomplished and where you might have fallen short. Celebrate the wins, no matter how small, and use any setbacks as learning opportunities.

2. Assess Your Consistency

One of the biggest factors in fitness success is consistency. How often did you exercise this year? Reflect on your routine: Did you stick to your workouts most of the time, or did you find it challenging to stay consistent? If consistency was tough, think about what obstacles got in the way and what changes you could make to improve next year. Was the issue related to needing more accountability, knowledge, or interest? If so, working with a fitness professional can help with any of those things.

3. Celebrate Your Progress

It’s easy to focus on what you didn’t achieve, but take a moment to truly appreciate how far you’ve come. Did you walk more steps than last year? Did you feel stronger, healthier, or more energized? Write down the things you’re proud of, no matter how small. Every bit of progress in your fitness journey counts!

4. Adjust Your Approach for the Future

Now that you’ve assessed your past year, it’s time to adjust your approach for next year. Maybe you want to try a new fitness activity, focus on improving a specific area (like flexibility or endurance), or commit to a more consistent routine. Setting new, realistic goals is key to continuing your journey and challenging yourself.

5. Set New, Achievable Goals

Based on your review, create new goals for the upcoming year. Aim for goals that are specific, measurable, and achievable. Instead of “get fit,” try something like “complete two strength workouts per week” or “improve my flexibility by attending yoga once a week.” Break your bigger goals into smaller, actionable steps, and give yourself room to adapt as life changes. If you find it hard to know how to make a goal specific or what is realistically achievable, this is another area where working with a personal trainer can be a huge benefit.

6. Remember, It’s a Journey

Fitness is not about perfection; it’s about progress. Reflecting on the past year can give you valuable insight, but remember to be kind to yourself. Some years are better than others, and sometimes life gets in the way. The important thing is to keep moving forward, even if it’s at your own pace. Here’s to 2025 – let’s take the lessons of the past year and use them to make next year our healthiest and happiest one yet!