10 Fitness Resolutions That Are Actually Doable, According to Your Favorite Personal Trainers

“My biggest thing with New Year’s resolutions is avoiding anything super restrictive. You know those ‘starting January 1, I’m cutting out all sugar’ goals? They can be a great jumpstart for some people, but for most, they only last a few weeks. What I see all the time is that by February 1, you’re right back to your old routine, and that’s the opposite of what a resolution is meant to do.

For me, it’s all about small, sustainable habits that support longevity. You want your goals to last the whole year and ideally become part of your lifestyle. So instead of giant, all-or-nothing changes, try setting realistic goals based on your actual schedule. If you’re currently doing 20-minute workouts, don’t suddenly expect yourself to commit to an hour every day. Add 10 extra minutes. Build slowly.

Tiny, doable habits add up, and they’re so much easier to stick with than big, restrictive resolutions.”

“My focus for 2026 is prioritizing quality over quantity in everything I do—especially movement. Instead of adding more onto my already overloaded plate, my goal is to do things mindfully, with intention and good form. This means being willing to regress an exercise to keep it clean and build strength, rather [than] pushing through sloppy reps. This helps strengthen the body and connect movement with mindfulness, helping me stay present and aware. 

As a Peloton instructor, I’d love to see my students focus on form rather than numbers, and [keep] track of their energy rather than minutes, numbers or calories. A simple way to see progress is to pick one exercise, like pushups, modify when form slips and notice over [the] weeks how much stronger you get by focusing on quality.”

“Do what you can. Life has a funny way of being unpredictable. Jobs, kids, families, responsibilities—so many places your attention has to go. But you are important. Your health is important and every little bit counts. You got 10 minutes? Great! Get out there for a walk. Do a strength workout. Maybe you even have a few of those throughout the day. Our Apple Fitness+ workouts are designed to fit into daily life, whether you have 45 minutes or five.

I’m a fan of breaking things up to make them more manageable. I have two small kids at home and sometimes all I have is a small window. It’s not how long you have, it’s what you do with it that counts.

I used to be an all-or-nothing person, but as I’ve gotten older and smarter, I’ve learned [that] everything adds up and makes a difference. So do what you can!”

“My motto for fitness resolutions is to stick to choosing consistency over intensity. It’s never about the perfect workout, it's about showing up in a way that’s sustainable. I teach this because it builds confidence, prevents burnout and keeps momentum going. The trick is to make movement a non-negotiable part of your routine. Schedule it like an appointment, set a realistic minimum and anchor it to something you already do every day.

A resolution I’m personally working on is honoring my energy instead of forcing a rigid plan. Some days call for strength, others for mobility or rest and learning to trust that ebb and flow has made me more consistent than ever. Fitness isn’t a race; it’s a relationship with your body.”

Curious how to get started? “Set weekly goals, celebrate the little wins and re-evaluate every month. This takes the pressure off and makes space for sustainable habits instead of all-or-nothing thinking. When you measure progress by how you’re growing instead of how fast you’re getting there, the results actually stick.”

“Commit to one honest mental and physical check-in every week.

Each week, I’m inviting myself and [Peloton] members to pause for a quick two-to-three-minute mental and physical scan: Where am I physically? Where am I emotionally? Do I need a rest day or am I ready for a push?

Why? Every day is going to look and feel a little different, and that’s part of being human. This little weekly reset gently pulls us back to who we are and where we’re at, so we can show up from a place that feels good and real.”

Three tips for helping you keep this resolution, according to Amato:

1. Plan your week’s workouts based on your real energy, not guilt or pressure.
2. Set a repeating reminder or alarm on your phone so you don’t forget.
3. Record your check-in in the Notes app, a journal or wherever feels natural.

"If you want a resolution that actually sticks, four is the magic number. [Working up to] four workouts a week shows results, is realistic, repeatable and adds up to almost 200 sessions a year. At New York Pilates, we see huge transformations in members who keep that flow. We see visible changes in physique, strength, posture, tone and overall energy. It's only 45 minutes a day, it feels great and it becomes something you look forward to. And whether you hit all four or miss one here and there, you still end up right around four—the magic number!"

“I always suggest ‘starting small’ when making resolutions. Committing to small changes sets you up for success. And as those small changes become habits, you can build on them to reach your goals.

Often the energy of the New Year also brings the pressure to make huge changes to your routine, when [in practice] adding a few small things into your daily routine will yield better results. And as you have success, you’ll be motivated to keep going. Achieving these small goals will give you the confidence to continue. 

Think about adding in a daily walk after lunch, waking up with a 10-minute Apple Fitness+ yoga workout or closing out your day with a 5-minute gratitude meditation. Small changes can have a huge impact on how you feel every day, and as a trainer, I want to help our Fitness+ users find exactly what they need to make this happen, whether that’s a single workout to give you energy, or a complete program that guides you to a goal.” 

“When it comes to your fitness goals for the New Year, instead of starting with a huge goal, work your way up to it! You absolutely can make your 2026 fitness goal to run a marathon, but if you're new to running, maybe try setting some additional goals that don't feel as daunting. Start small and simple, like ‘I'm going to run a mile once a week’ or ‘I'm going to run 30 minutes without stopping by February.’ Providing a specific target to hit and a timeframe/timeline can help keep you on track.

Throughout the year, you can expand on those goals as your fitness journey continues. Don't confine yourself to getting everything done in one year. Sometimes I like to set various goals that fit within a general timeline—realistic goals to help build momentum for the next six months, a larger goal that doesn't feel too daunting for the [following] year and a big dream that I hope to achieve within the next three to five years. Smaller goals that you can celebrate throughout one year can help you achieve those larger goals that you've always dreamt of down the line.

It's also helpful to find some friends or a community that have similar goals as you. Join a team that can help hold you accountable and grow alongside you in your fitness journey!” 

“As a trainer and a founder, I’ve never believed change has to happen all at once. FORM was built on short, intentional moments of showing up for yourself, finding movement you actually love and creating a foundation you can return to. When you stay grounded in that, consistency feels natural and sustainable.”

“It’s easy for a health and wellness routine to start to feel like a chore. In those moments when you want to procrastinate, come back to the reason why you want to keep this commitment to yourself, and lean into what feels good for your body and mind. Yoga is the perfect way to move for me. I always feel amazing after every session; my mind is calmer [and] I feel physically fit and more energized. 

Once I took the step to try a yoga flow workout, there were immediate and positive, compounding effects that improved so many aspects of my day-to-day—a more positive mindset and self-talk, more intention in my interactions and relationships, more focus to complete tasks and more energy to go out and do fun things…The list goes on.” If you have similar goals, Apple Fitness+ can help you achieve them. The platform “offers so much variety with 12 different workout types and meditation, which makes it so easy for you to experiment with different activities,” to find what works best for you.