While many of us use the new year as our kick-off to better health,  as we know the new year can bring unfamiliar challenges. As a result, it might be difficult to stick to your fitness goals, particularly with the spike in hype surrounding health at the very beginning of the year, and the proceeding decline in enthusiasm only a few weeks later. However, there are some minor adaptations you can make to your routine to continue persevering.

1. TRY A NEW FORM OF EXERCISE

Perhaps you've grown tired of your countless runs on the treadmill (I know, hard to believe you can get tired of your Landice), or you've become rather bored with walking your dog as a form of aerobic activity.

This could be a signal that your body and mind are craving something new. Maybe it's time to try out the pool at your local gym, enroll in an African dance class, or go skiing if you're craving the joys that come with exercising in a wintry wonderland.

Sometimes, changing the specific aerobic activity you're engaging in makes a world of difference.

2. EXERCISE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

The vast majority of us set New Year's resolutions that we never actually end up committing to, but it can be so easy to fall into the trap of exercising for all the wrong reasons: Societal expectations come to mind, for instance, but this approach can be deeply problematic.

First of all, it's essential to love yourself regardless of your weight, shape, or body type.

Second of all, the people who exercise to lose weight will often stop once they've reached their goal: You should be exercising for yourself, simply because it helps you feel good, it boosts your mood, or it allows you to feel more confident.

If you start working out for yourself instead of trying to meet everyone else's expectations, you'll likely stick to your routine for much longer.

"You should be exercising for yourself, simply because it helps you feel good"

3. WORK OUT WITH A FRIEND OR JOIN A CLASS 

Sometimes, being active alone can be discouraging: We don't have anyone around to hype us up or encourage us to reach our full potential!

If that's the case for you, you might actually want to try a virtual workout or attend a class with a bunch of like-minded people: This could inspire you to stay with it, and you could even make a few friends in the process.

4. EXERCISE AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY IF POSSIBLE

Sometimes, our minds and bodies become accustomed to routines to the point where it is difficult to do anything else: If you make a habit of working out at five in the morning every single day, you'll probably get addicted to the feeling you get when you're swimming, pumping weights in your home gym, or doing Zumba ,and it will likely become automatic to wake up and work out.

5. BE KIND TO YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE AN OFF DAY

So many people will swear off cigarettes only to return to the habit if they smoke one after a particularly tough day at work. A lot of folks will give up on prioritizing a healthy lifestyle after eating one donut from the office or skipping leg day for a week, but you don't have to succumb to dysfunctional patterns simply because you didn't meet your goals if you were struggling physically or emotionally for a short time.

Instead, you can just chalk it up to a glitch in your otherwise productive system and continue engaging in good habits despite one bad choice: Doing so will likely serve you better in the long run!

After a while, you might not even think about it anymore: The activity will simply become a natural part of your life.

It can be easy to get carried away with all of the New Year's hype surrounding health and fitness—especially if you are committed to this way of life and feel exceptionally inspired during the first week of January! — but, at the end of the day, if you exercise for yourself on your own terms, there's not much that can stop you!

And your Landice treadmill will always be there waiting for you!