Exercise Goals for the New Year
January 6, 2026 by HFS Staff
In this final entry in our Health and Wellness Tips for the New Year series, we cover setting exercise goals. Exercise doesn’t have to mean grueling workouts—it can be joyful, energizing, and sustainable. HFS Nutrition and Wellness Specialist Lacy Anderson shares ways to make movement a habit that your future self will thank you for.
Get Joyful Movement
It’s common to set extreme exercise goals around the New Year. For most people, those goals are quickly abandoned. You don’t need to sweat for an hour a day to get the benefits of moving your body. Even gentle movement is beneficial! If daily treadmill workouts aren’t something you love and instead are something you think you’re supposed to make yourself do, consider finding an alternative form of movement that sparks joy.
That could look like:
- strolling along the Burke-Gilman trail
- starting your day with a YouTube stretching video
- taking a workout class
- joining an intramural sport
- or a mix of all of the above
Building movement into each day will become a habit that your future self will thank you for starting. You can head over to Fitness Center West and use the workout equipement there or take a class to fit that joyful movement into your day.
You don’t need to make New Year’s resolutions if it isn’t your thing. However, if the New Year inspires you to reflect and goal-set, I hope you pick resolutions that bring you joy, reduce your stress, and help make this a great year to be you.
I wish all you Huskies a very Happy New Year!
Lacy Anderson, MS MPP RDN CD
Nutrition and Wellness Specialist
lacyand@uw.edu
Need some recommendations for goals that will support your wellness in 2026? Read our other Health and Wellness Tips for the New Year blogs for more information:
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