P is for

If you’re going to survive this time of year, I have one word for you:

Patience.

If you are a person who is an avid “gym-goer,” get ready for an extreme rush in your local hot spot. I mean EXTREME. People come out of the woodworks to fulfill a resolution for about a month in the New Year. This means you may need to plan for a little extra time spent at the gym. Try not to let that frustrate you though. Because the time you put in there is important.

There are many resources out there to give you ideas for exercises that don’t require you to be on equipment for an extended amount of time, and at the Wellness Center they also have some awesome personal trainers who can also assist you in figuring out alternatives to merely sitting, waiting, wishing you would just be zipping through your workout.

Look at it this way: change in an exercise routine should be embraced, not feared. Be grateful that you’re somewhat “forced” to step outside of the box, try new things, and push your body in new ways.

There’s another part to the patience that is important: patience with yourself. If you haven’t been to the gym in awhile, try not to expect that you’ll be bench pressing the same amount of weight that you did in basketball your senior year of high school. If the last time you ran was from the kitchen to the couch because the commercial ended sooner than you thought and your show is back on, try not to believe that you’ll be running marathons next Wednesday. Baby steps. Don’t get me wrong; it’s good to push yourself, but not to the point of frustration so you give up.

Enjoy what you’re doing and keep your mindset positive!
Welcome to the BEST year of your life.