An active January: 14 motivation-boosting buys to help you stick to your resolutions

January always arrives with that peculiar cocktail of hope and lethargy: the eagerness to “be better” mixed with the deep, gravitational pull of the sofa. After weeks of festivities, the desire to reset our bodies is real, but translating that into action is much harder.

Motivation ultimately lives in the doing, not the daydreaming, but when life gets busy, exercise ends up lower on our groaning to-do lists; most of us will sack off our new year resolutions by the time February comes around.

So, what can help us stick to our healthy resolutions? Studies say that finding something you enjoy and get an immediate reward from can help keep us on track. The right tools can also give us that extra nudge we need. There’s something motivational about unboxing a fresh fitness tracker, trying a new smoothie-maker or slipping on a pair of shoes that promise to support your slightly ill-advised ambitions (couch to marathon in six weeks? Sure). It scratches the same itch as buying a pristine pencil case before term starts.

Beyond psychology, these buys genuinely will make the new-year fitness drive easier. Consider this your guide to the best gear, gadgets and wellness tools to help you get off the sofa and build a healthy routine that you enjoy.

***

Motivation-boosting buys for 2026

***

Ringing the changes

Smart ring

From £249 at John Lewis £349 at Oura

The Oura Ring 4 is a discreet alternative to wrist-worn fitness trackers and measures your sleep, readiness (a daily snapshot of your body’s recovery status), heart health, stress and cycle patterns. Its multi-day battery life (up to eight days) makes it particularly appealing for anyone who, like me, struggles to keep wearables charged, and the lightweight design quickly becomes unnoticeable. The accompanying app breaks down data into actionable guidance too.

***

Stick to it

Exercise sticker chart

£12.99 at Silly Little Star Charts

Struggle to be consistent? Steal a playful behavioural hack from your childhood that triggers the reward centres that help habits stick. Tracking progress visually has been shown to boost follow-through, particularly on the days when motivation ebbs. Think of it as a gentle, analogue reminder to stay on course, whether your goal is a meditation streak or to get out in nature every day.

***

Smooth operator

Ninja Blast Max portable blender

£69.99 at Ninja £59.49 at Amazon

Few things kill the motivation for a healthy start like a lumpy, half-blended smoothie. This cordless Ninja blender fixes that, packing enough power to take on ice, fruit and protein powders, with up to 25 blends per charge. The twist-and-go cup keeps things streamlined: blend it, drink it and keep the urge for a Sausage McMuffin at bay.

For more, read our guide to the best blenders

***

Keep things fluid

Stanley water bottle

From £30 at Stanley £40 at Blacks

Making hydration simple is the key to boosting your water intake. The Stanley IceFlow’s twist-flip mechanism makes it quick to grab a drink whether you’re on a spin bike or a hike. The double-walled stainless steel keeps drinks cold for hours, it’s leakproof and has a hook that clips on to a bag, which is useful for avoiding the classic “lost water bottle” gym avoidance tactic.

For more, read our guide to the best water bottles from our test of 42

***

Thanks to you

Journal

£22.10 at Papier

If you like the idea of journaling but freeze at a blank page, this Papier gratitude journal may be the bridge you need. Its guided prompts encourage reflection in small, manageable steps, making the habit easier to get into.

***

Tissue issue?

Therabody Theragun mini massager

£122.45 at Beauty Bay £125 at John Lewis

Therabody’s mini massager, the Theragun, is small enough for a gym bag but surprisingly powerful when it comes to easing tight muscles and aches. It connects to the brand’s app via Bluetooth and offers guided routines tailored to your activity levels. The three attachments make it a versatile bit of restorative kit for relieving post-workout tightness or warming up your muscles.

For more, read our guide to the best massage guns

***

For a good stretch

Resistance bands, pack of three

£14.99 at Decathlon

Think of these as the grown-up evolution of rubber resistance bands: fabric, durable and less prone to rolling or pinging out of place mid-rep. For travellers, they’re an easy win: simple to pack, useful for loosening up on a long journey and ideal for maintaining a workout habit in a hotel room.

***

The not-a-gym-bag bag

Tote bag

£75 at Sweaty Betty £95 at Next

The padded, soft-structured Nimbus Roam tote by Sweaty Betty is designed to simplify active days. It fits trainers, lunch, a change of clothes, a laptop and much more without tipping into bulky “gym bag” territory. The practical shape and generous capacity make it easy to carry everything needed for work, workouts and whatever happens in between.

***

Up and at ‘em

Lumie alarm clock

£176.33 at Lumie £205.49 at Healf

A sunrise alarm clock wakes you with a gradually brightening light designed to boost energy and mood. The Lumie Bodyclock Luxe comes fully loaded: the sunset mode minimises blue light at night, helping you to wind down and sleep better, while the DAB+ radio, Bluetooth connectivity and adjustable bedside lighting are useful, space-saving additions.

For more, read our guide to the best sunrise alarm clocks

***

Go Team Protein

Vegan protein powder, 20 servings

£16.49‎ at Myprotein

If, like me, boosting your protein intake is on your 2026 wellness agenda, then a clear protein may be a smart way to hit your goals. Myprotein’s vegan protein powder is made of pea isolate, mixes into a light, squash-like drink with 11g of plant protein per serving and provides half of your daily recommended vitamin B12 and B6 intake. I’ve tried many clear protein brands, this one mixes and tastes the best.

***

The smell of (fitness) success

Neal’s Yard roll-on aromatherapy oil

£11.25 at Neal’s Yard £14.55 at Amazon

If you’re not naturally lively first thing, a targeted aromatherapy blend can be surprisingly transformative. This bright and invigorating Neal’s Yard mix of rosemary, lavender, geranium and grapefruit (known as Remedies to Roll Energy) creates a mood-boosting scent that helps an early workout or meditation session feel less like wishful thinking.

***

Let us spray

Magnesium body spray

£12.99 at Better You £9.14 at Amazon

Formulated with high-purity magnesium chloride, this spray absorbs quickly through the skin to help ease muscle tension and support restful sleep. As it bypasses the digestive system, the effects can be felt sooner – useful post-exercise or if you struggle to fall asleep. It’s also gentle enough for sensitive skin.

For more, read our guide to the best sleep remedies – tested

***

Pep talk

£40 at Heights £45.49 at Healf

I’ve taken this for years because it’s one of the few supplements where I genuinely notice a difference – particularly in overall wellbeing and morning brain fog. Heights is an all-in-one daily multivitamin, which contains 20 key nutrients, from algae-derived EPA and DHA to vitamin D3 and E. The delayed-release formula, developed by scientists and dietitians, is said to maximise absorption and supports everything from energy to immune and cognitive function. I also like that it combines omegas into the formula, so there’s no need to juggle an extra capsule.

***

Sole survivor

Adidas Supernova Rise GTX running shoes

£134.99 at Pro Direct Soccer £150 at Adidas

Designed for mixed-weather miles, these breathable trainers feature Gore-Tex sealing to keep water out, and a cushioned midsole for comfort and stability. They’re grippy in the rain, so a solid choice for winter training, but they also look cool enough to wear into the office or out to dinner afterwards.

For more, read the best running shoes, according to runners. Or, if you’d prefer a slower start to 2026, read the Filter’s guide to a restful January