New Year’s Resolutions. Helpful Reset or January Trap? (The RGF Take)
Every January, the same conversations pop up. New goals. New motivation. New promises to ourselves. And by February, a lot of those promises have quietly disappeared.
At Real Good Fitness, we don’t think New Year’s resolutions are good or bad. We think they’re only as useful as the way you approach them.
The Good Side of New Year’s Resolutions
They Create a Pause
The new year gives people a reason to stop and reflect. What’s working? What isn’t? That moment of honesty is often the first step toward real progress.
They Bring Intention
A resolution can give you direction. Not “do everything perfectly”, but “this is something I want to work on”. That focus matters.
They Spark Action
Motivation is usually highest in January. When channelled well, that energy can help people start habits they’ve been putting off for months or even years.
They’re Easier With Others
Change feels less daunting when you’re not doing it alone. Training in a group, sharing the process, and being part of a community make consistency far more realistic.
Where Resolutions Go Wrong
Too Much, Too Soon
We see it all the time. Five sessions a week. No rest. Big weight jumps. That’s rarely sustainable and often leads to burnout or injury.
All or Nothing Thinking
Miss a week, miss a session, or have a bad day, and suddenly the whole plan feels “ruined”. Real life doesn’t work like that.
Chasing Outcomes, Not Behaviours
Goals based purely on weight, aesthetics, or timelines tend to fade fast. Habits like moving well, building strength, and showing up regularly are what actually last.
Guilt-Driven Motivation
Training because you feel you “should” rarely ends well. Training because you want to feel better, stronger, and more capable usually does.
The RGF Approach to the New Year
We don’t do quick fixes or January-only intensity spikes.
Instead, we focus on:
Building strong foundations through good technique
Progressing gradually over structured training blocks
Tracking performance and confidence, not just appearance
Making sessions scalable so everyone can progress safely
Creating an environment where consistency beats perfection
Our aim isn’t a “new you” by February. It’s a stronger, more capable version of you by the end of the year, and beyond.
A Simple Reframe for This Year
Rather than asking, “What’s my New Year’s resolution?”, try this instead:
What could I do consistently for the next 6 to 12 weeks that would genuinely move the needle?
That might be two sessions a week. It might be learning how to lift well. It might just be turning up and doing something, even on the days you don’t feel like it.
The Takeaway
New Year’s resolutions aren’t the problem. Unrealistic expectations are.
If you treat January as the start of a long-term process, not a deadline, you give yourself a much better chance of success.
Slow progress. Solid foundations. Real results. That’s the RGF way.