Why my 2026 fitness resolution is all about getting mobile

It’s that time of year again: New Year’s resolutions. Last year, mine was to run a half marathon, a goal I’d failed to achieve several times before. I’m happy to report that I’ve crossed the finish line into 2025 and have learned a lot about New Year’s fitness resolutions along the way.

My biggest takeaway is that setting a specific, measurable goal is very helpful. I wasn’t a runner this time last year. In fact, I hated running. I could have easily chosen a more nebulous resolution, such as “start running” or “run consistently.” But I suspect that wouldn’t have done the trick.

For what? Because developing fitness is difficult, especially at the beginning. Every race in my first few months seemed just as difficult as the last. If I hadn’t decided to finish a race, I probably would have decided I had run enough.

That’s why I’m happy I chose the half marathon goal. It allowed me to stay focused, even when I was struggling. It also forced me to add running to my workout routine, whether I liked it or not. And I’m happy to say that I now love running. I do it regularly. This discovery convinced me of the value of New Year’s fitness resolutions. Even if they are just annual goals, they can help develop lasting habits. Case in point: A 2020 study of more than 1,000 participants found that 55% felt they had successfully maintained their New Year’s resolutions a year later.

So it’s with this in mind that I’m getting creative with my 2026 fitness resolution and targeting an often overlooked aspect of fitness: mobility. This refers to the body’s ability to perform a full range of motion, which is important for preventing injuries. A 2019 analysis of 20 studies found that participants with low mobility were approximately 50% more likely to develop injuries than more agile participants.

This could explain the results of another study of more than 3,100 people, which found that greater flexibility was associated with a significantly lower risk of death over a 13-year period. Stretching has also been shown to improve heart health. A 2020 study found that regular stretching decreased stiffness in the arteries and lowered heart rate and blood pressure.

To help develop this habit, I decided my New Year’s resolution was to do the splits. This might sound a little silly, but I think this measurable and specific result will help me stick to my mobility routine.

Of course, splits aren’t for everyone. The broader point is to choose a resolution that matches your fitness aspirations and make it concrete enough to know when you’ve achieved it. I also want to encourage you to think outside the box. If you want to get stronger, try doing a pull-up without assistance. Or, to increase longevity, focus on improving the length of time you can balance on one leg. Ultimately, the trick is to set a resolution with a clear finish line, one that will make you feel accomplished once you cross it.

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Grace Wade is a health journalist for New scientist. You can subscribe to his newsletter, Eight weeks to better healthat newscientist.com/healthier-you