There’s no secret that January is a popular time for people to start a new fitness programme. The new year is a great time to start fresh, and society makes it pretty easy to stay on track this month with all the information out there.

But what happens after January? A whopping percentage of people fail on their resolutions by mid-February. If you find yourself lacking motivation to maintain healthy habits and your interest in the gym is declining, you’re not alone. Give some of these tips and methods a go to keep your exercise goals on track in February and beyond.

1. Do something you actually like

Sounds simple, right?

It should be. If you dread your workout, there’s no way you’re going to sustain it within your routine. Instead choose something you actually like doing or at least something you can see yourself doing long term. Find an exercise that works for you! If you go to the gym spend 10 minutes on 1 machine and leave then maybe try a Bootcamp class where someone is going to motivate you. Turning exercise into a habit will highly increase the chances of you getting out the door for a training session.

2. Include your workouts in the diary

Think of your workouts as a you would for your childrens activities – you put it in your diary and block-out that time slot. Same should go for your workouts. One hour on your exercise days and don’t let any distractions find their way in. Put your fitness into your schedule, before the beginning of every week schedule in your sessions from Monday to Friday, you’ll be expected to show up because it’s part of your routine.

3. Keep it lean and healthy

You’re not going to get as much out of your workouts if you’re not fuelling your body properly. Treating yourself is a must, but an overload in foods high in bad fats and sugar won’t get you anywhere you want to be (unless you want to feel tired and groggy). By eating a healthy diet balanced in macro nutrients, you’ll feel better and ready to take on your workouts whatever the time of day is.

4. Book a holiday at the beginning of Spring

Instead of waiting for the weather to start getting warmer before you start hitting your fitness more you should get a trip booked as a motivation to keep you motivated to get into shape. Knowing that there’s a specific time in the foreseeable future when you’re going to be poolside can be all the motivation you need to hit the gym.