A simple guide on how to get back into fitness in January 2026

14th January 2026

Step by step to make fitness a habit 

If you’ve made it your resolution to get fit in 2026 and are already feeling you’re flagging just a couple of weeks in, you’re certainly not alone. But the good news is there are a number of things you could try to get back your workout mojo: 

1. Are your fitness goals achievable and specific enough? 

Simply pledging to ‘get fit’ isn’t exactly specific or measurable, and therefore not really achievable. So you could be setting yourself up not to succeed from the outset. Stay realistic and break down your overarching goal into smaller, more manageable targets. At the same time, aim for improvement rather than perfection. 

2. Have an exercise plan 

With a proper plan in place, you’re far less likely to ditch your fitness goals, especially if you find your enthusiasm waning. Look at your weekly schedule and see where you can realistically set aside time for your fitness regime. 

3. Enjoy your workout sessions 

It may be a cliché, but if you’re not a fan of running don’t make that your main form of exercise and expect to remain motivated. These days, with so many options from which to take your pick, you should easily find something you actually enjoy doing. Consider opening your mind to new things you haven’t tried before. If you want to find out about some of the different exercises you can do take a look at our beginners guide to the Training Rig.

4. Play some energising music 

Music can make a significant difference in terms of helping you to keep going. The BBC has plenty of free upbeat, energising soundtracks, and there are many other music apps available that let you listen to a broad range of genres and even allow you to create a personal fitness playlist to help keep you going! 

5. Work out with someone else 

On the days when you really don’t feel like exercising, having a workout buddy with you can be a huge help. You’ll need to choose your workout buddy with care, but they can support, encourage and keep you on track to meet your goals, while you can do the same for them. 

Use an outdoor gym as part of your new year fitness regime

One option you may not have thought about this January is to make better use of your nearest outdoor gym. After all, these facilities are free at the point of use, and everyone can access them, whatever their ability or level of fitness. 

At this time of year in particular, indoor gyms can feel overcrowded, while membership fees can be costly. Some also find the ‘Lycra culture’ of regular gyms makes them feel self-conscious. That doesn’t happen in outdoor gyms, which are highly friendly and sociable. 

Equally, these facilities are accessible all year round, even in the depths of winter. Our previous post on outdoor gyms in winter will help you to make the most of fitness facilities under the sky during the coldest months. 

There are not just physical benefits, there are many mental wellbeing benefits of using you local outdoor gym too. They’ll boost your mood, leave you feeling refreshed, happy, motivated and reduce stress levels. Got any questions then have a read of our outdoor gym faqs. 

Why choose us for outdoor exercise equipment? 

Fresh Air Fitness is an award-winning supplier of outdoor gym equipment for schools, parks, recreation grounds, residential homes and other settings. 

Our kit is fully compliant with all relevant safety regulations, plus it all comes with a 25-year warranty and suits all ages and abilities. What’s more, since 2007, we’ve fitted a whopping 5,000 installations. 

So think about using one of our gyms to help up your fitness game this January – find your nearest outdoor gym. Browse our brochure and get in touch if you’d like to discuss fitting some outdoor exercise equipment in your local community.