So when it comes to health and fitness, we all make mistakes.

Have you ever said to yourself:

I’ll manage my health and fitness in the New Year.
I'll start working out in the New Year.
I'll pay better attention to my health in the New Year.

If you said any of these things or felt any of these feelings, then you are definitely in the right place. You are definitely not alone. I have made these mistakes and have made many more.

Let’s talk about some of those mistakes that can derail our efforts to workout consistently and how to avoid them.

First, you don't have a plan.

One of the biggest ways that you can sabotage your efforts to workout consistently is by not having a plan. It can feel daunting to try and figure out, where to start, what to do, and how to make it all work. You need a structured plan to make it work. The key is to set your health goals and develop a structured plan so that you maintain a consistent workout routine.

Having a plan will make sure that you are able to not just work out, but work out consistently. There are many things you need to consider when you are developing your health goals and a structured plan, not just what you’ll do, but what time you’ll workout, how long you’ll workout, and how you’ll you stay accountable.

Set aside some time to think about your goals and develop a plan. Grab a pencil and paper and write down your goals. Be sure to consider what you'll do when you workout, whether you go to the gym or the studio, what time you’ll workout, how long you’ll workout, what days you’ll workout, how will you stay accountable.

These are all very important things. They seem simple and you may be tempted to not pull out that pencil and paper. But it's really important to write down your goals and your plan so that you remember them and can refer to them often.

Second, you don't have an instructor.

Random classes aren't gonna work. One day, you’re on YouTube. Another day, you’re on Pinterest, and another day, you're doing your saved Instagram and Facebook workouts. But you don't need to do everything, to get the results you want. You just need to do the right things. Try a proven method to reach your health goals rather than a series of random workout videos.

You don't have to do it all alone. There are others who’ve already been on this journey, and they can share their plans for success with you and help you stay accountable and workout consistently. So it's really important to have an instructor, a coach, or a trainer - someone that you can work closely with and discuss your health goals, your health plan, and certainly chat about any difficulties that you might have and stay accountable which is really important.

Third, you don't take your rest days seriously.

Take your rest days seriously. They're just as important as your workout days, because they assist in healing and preventing injuries. They're also great days to focus on meditation or reading more about fitness, yoga, and Pilates.