Here we are, approaching March … two months of 2026 have already slipped through our fingers. Maybe you came in hot on January 1 — meal prep containers lined up like soldiers, brand-new sneakers squeaking on the gym floor. Or maybe the year blindsided you. Plans shifted. Life did what life does.

Either way, the calendar kept moving. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: time doesn’t pause because we had a rough start. But here’s the hopeful truth: you don’t need January to begin again.

The myth of the perfect start

We’ve bought into this idea that transformation needs fireworks. A clean slate. A Monday. A new month. A new year.

That’s cute … but it’s not real life. Real life is grief. From payroll stress to parenting and workplace headaches. To hormones, travel delays, renovations, unexpected bills and fatigue. Real life does not ask if you’re ready — it just shows up.

So if January knocked you sideways, that does not mean you have failed, it just means you’re human. What matters now is simple: are you going to stay sideways?

Recommitment Is quiet

Recommitment isn’t dramatic. It’s not a social media announcement. It’s not a detox tea. It’s not punishment cardio because you “fell off”.

It’s mental. It’s sitting with yourself and asking ‘what do I actually need right now? Am I exhausted or just undisciplined? Do I need intensity — or consistency? Am I chasing aesthetics or protecting my peace?’

Sometimes recommitting to wellness doesn’t mean going harder. Sometimes it means going steadier.

Give yourself mental space

Before you overhaul your workout plan or rewrite your diet, take mental inventory.

Have you processed the last two months? Have you acknowledged the stress? Have you grieved what didn’t go the way you hoped?

You cannot build strength on top of burnout. That foundation cracks.

Take a day. Take a weekend. Journal. Pray. Sit quietly. Walk without your phone. Clear the internal clutter before you attack the external goals. That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

Wellness is bigger than workouts

Let’s get honest, wellness isn’t just a calorie target or a step count or a number on a scale. It is not even closing your Apple Watch rings

Wellness is:

• Getting seven hours of sleep.

• Drinking water instead of your third coffee.

• Saying no to something that drains you.

• Booking the appointment you’ve been avoiding.

• Forgiving yourself for not being perfect.

Sometimes the most powerful recommitment is boring. That’s old-school, foundational. The basics your grandmother probably preached before “biohacking” became trendy.

Eat real food and move your body. Rest. Pray. Breathe. Repeat.

You do not need to catch up

This is important. You don’t need to “make up” for January and February: You are not behind. There is no scoreboard. March can simply be … March.

Start with:

• three workouts a week.

• two litres of water daily.

• ten minutes of intentional quiet time.

• One boundary you’ve been avoiding.

That’s it. Not 17 habits. Not a complete life overhaul. Consistency beats intensity. Every time.

The question isn’t “did you fall off?”

The real question is: Are you willing to stand back up without shaming yourself?

A rough start does not define your year. It reveals where you need reinforcement. And sometimes, those rocky months? They build resilience that the smooth ones never could.

So as March approaches, don’t ask yourself if you failed.

Ask yourself if you’re ready

Ready to recommit. Ready to steady your pace. Ready to protect your energy. Ready to build slowly — but solidly.

Two months are gone. Ten are still ahead. What are you going to do with them?

Be remain unapologetic about your entire fitness and wellness journey, stay true to yourself and always be honest with your efforts.

Happy Wednesday fitfam! I've missed these articles and look forward to regaining momentum for 2026.

• Dre Hinds is a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict” with more than 20 years’ experience. She specialises in nutrition, weight and sprint training, operating out of HindsSight Fitness and Wellness at the Berkeley Cultural Centre. Contact her at absbydre@gmail.com or on 599-6683. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram under @Absbydre