Every January, as the director of a fitness center, I watch a familiar pattern unfold. New members pour through the doors, energized by New Year’s resolutions and good intentions. By February, many of those faces have disappeared. The problem is not motivation; it is expectation. New Year’s resolutions should not expire after a few weeks. Real change does not come from one oversized, unrealistic goal. It comes from building habits—small, repeatable actions that compound month after month.
James Clear captures this idea well in Atomic Habits: you should be far more concerned with your trajectory than your current results. Progress matters. Consistent actions sustained over twelve months create real, lasting change.
As a football coach, this is exactly how we prepare our players—not just for game day, but for life. We emphasize habits: how you train, how you recover, how you treat your teammates, and how you show up every day when no one is watching. Those behaviors define outcomes far more than a single workout, practice, or season ever could.
I turn 61 today, and I feel better now than I did half my life ago. That did not happen by accident. It happened by committing to the fundamentals and repeating them consistently over time.
Exercise is often called the “magic pill,” and for good reason. It strengthens the heart, muscles, and bones, improves circulation, and helps regulate blood sugar. It also plays a powerful role in mental health—reducing stress, improving mood, and increasing energy and focus. Unlike most medications, exercise has very few negative side effects when done safely and consistently. That said, exercise alone is not enough. Proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and hydration are equally essential parts of the equation.
As you look ahead to 2026, commit to a healthier lifestyle rooted in habits you can sustain. Focus on consistency over intensity. Build routines you can repeat. And when you find something that works, lead by example—bring others along with you. That is how real progress is made, on the field and in life.
Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!
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