Having your own backyard swimming pool is a huge step in helping you get healthier this year! But just like writing down your New Year’s Resolutions won’t ensure that you accomplish them, simply having a pool won’t mean you take advantage of it. Knowing that consistent exercise and physical fitness will greatly improve your overall health is clearly not enough, either. In order to improve your health, you need more than opportunity, knowledge, and good intentions – even though those are important parts of the equation. You need to set yourself up for success by making specific goals and plans and creating habits.
Planning for Success
What is it that makes a difference between hopes and dreams and goals that actually get met? It starts with realistic expectations and having a specific plan in place to help accomplish your goals. And really, instead of an end goal like losing a certain number of pounds or achieving a certain fitness goal, it’s best to make the habit your goal. Regardless of the number of times you work out or the length of your workouts, maybe you won’t lose 20 pounds this month; but if you make your goal to exercise for 30 minutes, 3 times per week, this month, that’s a specific and achievable goal. The next step is to schedule your workouts for specific days and times.
Providing Motivation
If you’ve had specific goals and plans in place before but have failed, it’s especially helpful to give yourself some external motivation. One way to do this is by establishing accountability. Find someone else with specific fitness goals and plans, and ask them to be your fitness partner. Even if your fitness routines are different and you won’t work out together, you can help keep one another accountable and cheer each other on! Another way to establish accountability is to post your workout schedule in a public place accessible to your family or housemate(s).
Another form of motivation can come in the form of rewards. Whether it’s keeping your plans of working out a certain amount of time this month or reaching a specific fitness goal, maybe you can let yourself buy or do something you’ve been wanting for a while. (Make sure your “reward” isn’t an unhealthy one or something you actually need.)
Your swimming pool offers much more than a workout opportunity; that’s a pretty big one, but it’s also just one of many benefits it affords you. It can also help improve mental and emotional health as well as your relationships, thanks to its ability to offer opportunities for parties, relaxation, and aesthetic appeal. We hope that along with increased health, your new year brings you many opportunities to appreciate all the benefits of your swimming pool!
Read More About Pools
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Lyon Financial
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 400,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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