As many New Year’s resolutions come and go, none of us are strangers to the excitement of setting lofty goals that we end up dropping three weeks into the year. The goals are forgotten until they are set as resolutions again for the following year.

One of the most popular resolutions is to go on a diet or exercise more. But isn’t it a little tiring to have your fitness goals matter for only the first few weeks of the year? If you were looking for a sign to finally pursue a healthier, fitter lifestyle, this is your sign.

But before we give you tips, we must first understand that discipline is not fueled simply by bursts of inspiration. Discipline, more specifically self-discipline, means being able to keep at something even without feeling like it.

Now, how do you do that for yourself?

Finding External Support

You’ll get by with little help from your friends. Asking for help may be the push you need to keep working on your health and fitness. Here are a few ways to support yourself in building discipline.

Seek help from a dieting coach

If you are at a loss to start your journey, find a weight loss and management coach. Many diets promote themselves as healthy and safe, but a sustainable diet is one that doctors helped develop.

Employing the assistance of a coach helps personalize your diet according to your lifestyle, daily nutrition needs, and your ultimate goal. Most importantly, they will help you achieve it safely.

Remember that when going on a diet, especially for weight loss, it is best to approach professionals. Their expertise can guide you through each part of the process, including the challenging ones.

Use diet, fitness, and habit tracking apps

Building discipline means turning your action plan into habits. Stay on top of your plans and goals by tracking your habits through an app. A habit tracker provides a visual reminder of the tasks you have to do and what you have accomplished thus far.

Maybe you’re the type who gets further motivated by incentives. You may also like receiving regular reminders about your to-do list. Different kinds of trackers will be helpful for different types of people.

Some apps have social features. This allows friends and family to check in on your progress, and vice versa. This will benefit those who would like more support or accountability for their fitness choices.

Follow a schedule

It is true when they say, “You don’t find time; you make time.” That is because waiting to see when you are next available or when your schedule clears up opens up the door for a number of excuses to forego your fitness plan.

Becoming more disciplined means adjusting and making space for exercise and proper meals in your daily routine. Schedules are great because they alert you on a set time for specific tasks. This makes them easier to follow and harder to forget.

Having a schedule conditions you to practice your habits regularly. And when you have a regular schedule, it also makes it much simpler to make plans for the rest of your day. Remember: plan around your fitness schedule instead of trying to fit it into your other plans.

Setting Measurable Goals

Having goals is a must. But the broader and loftier your goals are, the harder they are to stand by. This is due to the fact that a general goal does not give you a clear picture of what you are trying to achieve.

Remedy this by setting small, measurable goals. Instead of just getting fit, turn it into a goal weight or muscle mass, for instance. A clear objective allows you to set a reasonable deadline for yourself and also gives you more information as you track your progress.

Be realistic, too, about the goals you set. When unsure, feel free to consult your coach regarding healthy weekly or monthly goals.

Reflecting on Your Reason

Personal fitness is not all about diets and workouts. So much of what keeps you going with your plans is a particular reason. Periodically take a moment to remind yourself of the “why” of your fitness plan.

On the more difficult days when keeping at it seems pointless, your reason reminds you of what you hope to accomplish. As your reason and habits continue to work together, you can gain the discipline to keep pursuing a fit and healthy lifestyle.