Welcome to the kick off of the 2026 Nerd Fitness Challenge!
If you’re starting the year excited and a little wary because you’ve been here before, you’re exactly who this Challenge is for.
In this first short video, I’m going to ask you to start from a place you might not expect.
We’re not starting with goals or motivation.
Instead, we’re looking ahead at what usually gets in the way
Key ideas from the video:
- The challenges that knock you off track are often predictable
- We name those pitfalls early, we can plan around them
- This is how we stop repeating the same cycle every January
- It’s rarely an issue of “motivation” or “not caring enough” – fitness plans fail when they don’t account for real life challenges
Common examples of pitfalls include:
- An unpredictable work schedule
- Kids (or you) getting sick
- Feeling guilty taking time for yourself
- Trying to change everything at once and burning out
- Frustrated by lack of progress
Your action step today:
Download the worksheet and fill out Section 1: Pitfalls.
Write down 2-3 things that have knocked you off track in the past – or that make you nervous about starting again.
Don’t overthink it. Simple is better.
You’re not trying to “fix” anything – just notice the patterns.
-Matt
P.S. Want a coach to walk you through this exact process? See who would be a good fit for you.