Chasing Better

You may reach for the same tired resolutions every time the calendar flips to January. Lose weight. Save money. Clean out the garage before the clutter unionizes. Yet there's more to living well than fewer pounds, more dollar signs, and less mess. There's also setting positive habits and finding new ways to enjoy every day!

Life can be hectic, but that is no excuse for not drinking enough water! Water is vital to staying healthy. You can form better habits when it comes to drinking water by following these three tips. 

Have you ever made a plan to exercise or do something fun after work, only to go home and lie on the couch instead? During a busy week, it's easy to let your plans to improve your life go by the wayside. Stress makes it easy to forget about your intentions to go to the gym, read a book, or paint that room. These kinds of things are often the first to be thrown out during busy times, even though they are invaluable in the long run. Stop letting the most important things in your life be tossed aside because of temporary lethargy, apathy, or stress.

Core strength refers to the strength of your abdominal, gluteal, and lower-back muscles, which support your spine and protect it from injury during strenuous activity. Strengthening these muscles will improve your balance and stability, and give you overall strength that can translate into increased performance in nearly any sport or activity you participate in. 

Many people set goals for themselves at the beginning of the year. Often, these goals are a part of a new year's resolution. The new, fresh year feels like a natural time to make some long-term plans. However, in so many cases, these goals come to naught. At the end of the year, we often find that we have fallen far short of our goals -- if we even remember to think about them.

It can be tough to stick to a fitness plan. You may have taken a break during a vacation so you can enjoy the time with your family. Maybe you caught a cold that left you sick and sore in bed for a week. Either way, the only way to meet your fitness goals is to work on your plan. Here are five ways to stay motivated to stick to your fitness plan.