Staying On Track with Your New Year’s Resolutions

As we approach the beginning of February, many of us experience a familiar struggle – maintaining those New Year’s resolutions. Whether it is a fitness goal, a personal development target, or a professional ambition, sticking with new habits can be challenging. Research shows that around this time, motivation tends to wane, and we may find ourselves slipping back into old habits. If you have set a resolution or helped a client set one, how are things going so far?

A Time for Reflection

For many of our clients, the New Year serves as a moment for reflection and planning. Even if they do not openly share their goals with us, this period is often a time of introspection. Some may have chosen a word or theme for the year, while others might have set specific goals. Regardless, it’s common for motivation to start fading around this time of year.

As coaches, it is important to be aware of this pattern. Keep an eye out for signs of falling motivation, particularly in training sessions. Are clients starting to miss workouts? Are they less engaged or confident in reaching their goals? This is a perfect moment to check in with them. Start a conversation about what they want to achieve in 2025 and offer support. Helping them recalibrate or adjust their goals can have a big impact on their overall experience and retention.

Accountability: The Key to Staying On Track

Accountability plays a huge role in helping clients stay committed. If training and goals are part of the equation, it is our job to provide that structure and support when things start to slip. This is especially important in the first few months of the year when clients may feel overwhelmed by external stressors like work and family commitments.

As a coach, part of our role is troubleshooting when challenges arise. If a client is struggling to stick with their training, it might be time to reassess their goals, adjust their training program, or even shrink the goal to something more attainable. Helping clients manage their expectations and guiding them through obstacles is what they rely on us for, especially when things are not going as smoothly as they hoped.

Reflecting on Your Own Resolutions

We also make our own resolutions. For example, one of the goals CJ set for himself this year was to be more consistent with training. But like many others, things didn’t go exactly as planned. In his case, a sprained ankle threw a wrench in his ability to follow his regular routine. However, this challenge allowed him to practice what he preaches: being flexible with goals and making adjustments where needed. If a goal requires 100% consistency, it might need to be redefined to account for setbacks.

When you are struggling with your own resolutions, try applying what you would tell a client. Ask yourself: “If my client were dealing with this, how would I coach them through it?”

It can be helpful to reframe expectations and focus on practical solutions for the obstacles you encounter. Whether that is adjusting a training program or optimizing your workspace, breaking down the problem and solving it step by step is how we can move forward.

As we get farther into 2025, it is natural to face obstacles to maintaining our resolutions. Whether you are coaching clients or working on your own goals, remember that flexibility, accountability, and self-reflection are key. By checking in, making adjustments, and focusing on what truly matters, we can help ourselves—and our clients—stay on track for a successful year ahead.