Regina Residents Set New Year Resolutions to Embrace Change

As the calendar turns to a new year, residents of Regina are embracing resolutions aimed at personal improvement. With the arrival of 2026, many are focusing on enhancing their fitness, improving their diets, and spending more quality time with family.

During the Noon Years Eve Celebration at the Saskatchewan Science Centre, local attendees shared their aspirations for the upcoming year. Chelsea Gibney, a parent of two toddlers and a fitness and health promotion advisor for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), expressed her desire to prioritize family experiences. “I just hope to spend more time with my kids and just hope that we can have more great experiences as they grow,” Gibney remarked.

The trend of New Year’s resolutions often brings a surge of activity in fitness centers, but this enthusiasm can fade quickly. Gibney noted that many clients set ambitious goals at this time of year, but maintaining motivation beyond January can be challenging. “A lot of different clients are usually making these goals at this time for trying to clean up at the end of the year,” she explained. “But that’s where I just encourage people to keep on going with it. Not past January 30.”

At New Gen Fitness, the New Year’s resolution rush typically begins in February, as new memberships are often signed up with high motivation levels. However, Aaron Shannon, co-owner and head exercise therapist, highlighted a common pattern where attendance declines after a few weeks. “I find a lot of people might have goals that start a little too big because they’re really excited in the new year,” Shannon noted. “They have high levels of motivation, and then it kind of dwindles down.”

For many individuals seeking to achieve fitness goals, the journey requires patience, especially when it comes to gaining muscle or losing weight. Significant results often take around three months to become noticeable. Shannon emphasized the importance of starting any self-improvement journey whenever one feels ready, rather than waiting for the New Year. “The only qualm I have with that is people wait for that New Year’s mark when you can pick any day to start any kind of journey; you don’t have to wait until the first,” he stated.

The New Year presents a unique opportunity for individuals to reflect and make positive changes in their lives. Whether through fitness, health, or family engagement, Regina residents are keen to make 2026 a year of growth and fulfillment. As the resolutions are set, the challenge will be in maintaining the motivation and commitment to see them through.