New Year, New Fitness Goals

With the beginning of 2017, we all know what that means: a new year, new beginnings, and new resolutions. Time and again, getting in shape tops the charts of New Year’s resolutions. According to Nielsen, the majority of those surveyed placed getting fit on their list, topping any other resolution. This is the year to make the standard fitness resolution a reality.

Fitness Goals and Resolutions: Teacher Challenges

Teachers have a special challenge with fitness resolutions because of the dual responsibilities of inspiring and instructing students. Teachers can champion fitness inside and outside of the classroom, leverage physical activity to support learning, and set an example by modeling healthy behavior.

Perhaps one of the biggest barriers to getting started on a path to fitness is time. The gold standard of 60 minutes of physical activity a day sounds like a lofty goal when so much of our day is already accounted for. Remember: those 60 minutes do not have to be all at once. Break it down – 10 minutes of walking in the morning before school, 20 minutes of activity during PE or lunch, 10 minutes of a physical activity break during class, 20 minutes of circuits after school – all add up to 60 minutes of activity. Repeat these active behaviors for 21 days and you will have formed yourself a healthy habit.

Tips for Sticking to Fitness Resolutions & New Years’ Goals

With your fitness goals outlined and habits forming, keep in mind the need to change up your physical activity. This allows you to integrate the three key types of activity – cardio respiratory endurance, muscular strength & endurance, and flexibility / stretching – but it also keeps things fresh and interesting with more activities, exercises and challenges.

Remember, everything you do burns calories:

Grab a friend and your pedometer and go for a walk to get your cardio. Take it up a notch and add some ankle or wrist weights to add some strength training. Try this before school or during recess or lunch.
A round of yoga helps to increases flexibility and strength. Guide yourself through yoga poses with yoga circuit cards (set 1 or set 2). Try some poses with your students as an activity break.
Do you have alternative seating in your class? Try some stability ball exercises for strength and flexibility.
Grab some resistance bands to stretch and strengthen muscles.
Round up the dumbbells, medicine balls, stability balls, and resistance tubing and work through strength training circuit cards.
Surprise yourself with Fitness Dice to see what you’ll tackle next!

More Teacher Life Tips & Inspiration

Looking for more ways to make this the best year yet? Check out the Teacher Life category page to find more inspiration, guidance, ideas, and encouragement. Educators are working together to make the future a brighter place, and starting each semester with energy and excitement is just the beginning. Also be sure to stop by the online store where you can browse through thousands of teacher favorite products for classrooms of any size.