Get your Motivation Back 

Returning to being more active after the Christmas period often means shifting your new routine back to something more familiar. Holidays disrupt regular routines, leading to behaviours that we might not want to continue into the new year. However, we can also reframe this time as a chance for reflection and motivation. Asking ourselves better questions around what you want to achieve from a physical health perspective might mean a different outcome than before! 

Here are a few other prompts to help you get your motivation moving. 

• What do I really want to achieve within the next 3, 6, 12 months? 

• What are the steps that I need to take to really get this moving? 

• What are the barriers that I run into during the year that affect my efforts? 

• How can I find new ways to limit these barriers this year? 

• What can I do this week to support my goals? 

The above prompts help avoid vague goals and also provide greater clarity on how we want to go about getting what we want. Using a planner or fitness app to track progress can enhance accountability (MyLife by Irish Life is a great way to get you motivated).  

Remember, begin with enjoyable activities. You want to help re-establish the habit of exercising and making physical activity something that you do. Group classes, team sports, or workout buddies can make exercising more enjoyable and foster a sense of community, which is a big motivating factor.  

Finding Balance and Motivation  
It’s also worth reminding ourselves after the Christmas hustle that balance is essential. Chances are that last year, balance wasn’t a big part of making the push for better physical activity plans. It’s important to avoid the temptation of “going hard or going home.” Sustainable fitness habits often emerge from consistency rather than intensity. Recognise that physical health and activity is a lifelong journey, and short-term setbacks or indulgences don’t define long-term success. Motivation can wane and it's perfectly valid to acknowledge this and be ok with it.  

Whether easing back into exercise post-injury or after the holidays, a lot of potential success lies in patience, balance, and better thinking around expectations. Embrace the process, celebrate small victories, and remember that every step forward counts.  

Rab Das
Physical Health and Nutrition Consultant
Irish Life Wellbeing