The new year marks a time for people to reflect on the last 365 days and nights, things they did and didn’t do or accomplish, and a chance to make lifestyle adjustments, in the form of  New Year’s Resolutions. One lifestyle change is much more popular than any other this time of year: a commitment to go to the gym.

While some people see going to the gym as part of their daily routine, others who want to feel or look better often wait until January to go to the gym, following the “new year, new me” mentality. These eager gym-goers have been dubbed “New Year’s Resolutioners” by lifting veterans. Many lifters who are unapproving of the NYR’s invading their sacred gyms are under the impression that these gym-goers–who are often misinformed–are just going to ruin the environment and use the equipment improperly. Camdyn House, an EHS sophomore falls into this category of unimpressed lifters. “They need to leave. I can’t use my machines,” asserts House in the first week of January, after a few visits to the gym.

Creating a gym routine based on a New Year’s resolution is a recipe for disaster, according to many. Even though the odds are stacked against New Year’s Resolutioners in multiple aspects, there are some techniques that can increase their likelihood of success.

Start going before the New Year crowds. Creating a routine that works before this crowd hits can be critical to the success of a routine. Knowing how to use the machines–and not having to fight for the machines or work into other people’s routines–can give people a sense of what the gym is like come spring when the influx of members dies down.

Get a lifting partner. Having a lifting partner can make going to the gym feel like a fun outing rather than a grueling and repetitive task that weighs on someone’s shoulders and becomes a drag in their everyday life.

Do some research. Knowing what the machines are used for, what workout split will allow for the most muscle growth, or what machines will help get the best results can be imperative to see visual results.

Don’t fall for the plateau. Most New Year’s gym-goers often struggle once they hit a plateau. They will rapidly put on lots of muscle, or rapidly lose lots of weight, and then start to even out. Gym-goers who haven’t done any research may think that hitting a plateau is when the lifting should stop, though it’s quite the opposite. When a plateau happens, increasing the amount of time taken for each workout can often be enough to overcome this juggernaut.  

Though these tips can increase the likelihood of a successful New Year’s Resolution, they are not a guaranteed fix if the gym isn’t working. Sometimes a gradual increase in physical activity–without dedicating an arm and a leg to the gym–can be enough to see the hoped-for results.