Resolutions Are Worth Celebrating, Even the Small Ones

By: Kaitlyn Hoey

New Year’s resolutions are hard. Keeping up with them is hard. Changing an aspect of your life in order to make sure you succeed at these resolutions is hard. I have never been the type of person to have a resolution and stick with it, but this year is different.

At the start of 2022, I told myself I would work out on a regular basis. I wanted to feel better about myself, become stronger, and give myself a goal. I knew about all the resources that the gyms at Temple offer, but have never taken advantage of them. I mean, when am I going to have this easy access to a gym or workout classes again? As the procrastinator I am, it took me about three weeks to actually put my resolution into action.

I have never been to a Temple gym in my three and a half years at Temple, so going in I felt out of place. I walked around the gym not even knowing where to start, so I decided to begin with a cycling class. Since this first class, I have been going twice every week. The instructor had high energy and was extremely welcoming to everyone who attended. She came up to everyone individually to introduce herself while explaining how the class was going to run. She had upbeat music blasting, making me glad I decided to get up and come.

Here is what I have learned from my recent experiences.

Waking up early in the morning to workout can be tough, especially during the cold winter months when the sun is not even up yet, but it is always worth it when you do it the right way: having friends to go with, doing what is comfortable for you, and appreciating yourself before and after the workout.

Find friends to go with. Working out in a group is always better than doing it alone. Going with someone who will motivate you will only make your workout better. Having a workout crew encourages you not only while you are exercising, but it inspires you to physically get out of bed and go to the gym.

Every time I am up early I feel better mentally and physically. After a good workout, I feel that I am ready to take on the day. Experiencing physical exercise in the morning not only makes me gain confidence, but it sets me up to believe that I can conquer the rest of the day.

When my alarm goes off at 6 a.m., there is a moment when I say, “not today” and debate if I should go back to bed. After finally deciding to wake up and go, I never regret it. I am awake and ready for the day. It gives me a consistent schedule to stick to. Every week I have days I am up early and one or two days I get to sleep in. It keeps me on schedule and allows me to plan to get things done.

Being physically active for as many days as possible not only helps me stay in shape but helps me mentally. Being awake and leaving a workout confident and feeling great puts me in a productive mindset. It helps me overcome other mental issues that may be holding me back in a motivating way. After conquering a workout so early in the morning, the rest of my day must be productive as well. I feel much more focused throughout the day knowing that I was able to physically move my body. I feel confident and I am able to carry these feelings throughout the day for the rest of my activities.

Having this resolution is also allowing me to actively take advantage of Temple’s gyms and the equipment they offer. As someone who is new to working out, having these guides and classes to attend is extremely helpful. Instructors are willing to help and cheer on everyone who attends the class. Although I have just started using the facilities, I feel myself getting the most out of my experience and becoming stronger.

A resolution does not need to be a huge change or something that changes an important aspect of your life. It can be something small that has a positive impact on your life. Any successful resolution is something to be celebrated.