Now that the festivities have come to an end, it’s time to put our game face on and start planning for 2017.

I’ve never been fond of New Year’s resolutions because I can never stick to it (or just end up forgetting about it).  And the two most popular goals are definitely eating healthier and exercising more.

I’ve found that the best way to reach your goals is to create a challenge.

Why? Because nobody wants to be a loser.

Walk More, Sit Less

Exercise doesn’t have to be about hitting the gym or subscribing to the Spartan Race. Simply walking more and sitting less is a HUGE LEAP. Studies have shown that walking, especially after meal times, and sitting less do wonders for health. Simple, but efficient. Just the way I like it.

To increase their employees’ physical activity, several workplaces created a pedometer challenge. The winning team will be able to travel to the destination corresponding to the total distance saved by their pedometers. Awesome, isn’t it?

Purchase a pedometer and set yourself a goal. For further motivation, create a challenge among your colleagues or friends.

Potlucks

After 2-week of stuffing myself with god-knows-how-much-food, I’m looking forward to home-cooked healthy meals. Restaurants are often to-go spots for social gatherings among friends and colleagues. More than often, dishes are high in calorie, salty, and unbalanced.

Instead, organize a potluck. It creates a great opportunity to force you to improve your cooking skills. Again, create a challenge among your friends for extra motivation.