The thing to do is to make New Years Resolutions, but is it really worth it? Learn how to set goals that keep you accountable in fulfilling your resolutions.
The information provided in this post is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. Links throughout this blog may also contain affiliate links. Please be assured, that these are all products I personally use and/or recommend. There is no additional cost to you, and often times when you use my link, you will save money with my exclusive discounts and coupons.
As I sit here today and write this we’re a few days into the New Year. So my question for you is:
- 1. Did you make a New Years Resolution?
- 2. And if you said yes, have you broken it yet?
When we flip the calendar to the new year, it gives us this feel of a “fresh start”. But the reality of the calendar is that the winter season may not actually be the best time for that. Historically, winter is about looking within, slowing down, grounding yourself which can make starting new habits and goals this time of year a bit harder than at other times of year. In addition, we’re coming off a time known as the “holiday season” where the routines, diets and lifestyles are all a bit different. It can be hard enough to get back to doing what you were before the holiday season, let alone something new.
I think it is great if you want to work on being a healthier, fitter (insert whatever your goal is) you. But my advice is to not make it harder than it needs to be.
My best tip for you (and how I approach changes in my lifestyle) is to set goals.
It is great to say that you want to be healthier or fitter, but what exactly does that mean to you? And WHY do you want that?
My first step of goal setting is to dream and set a vision.
Sit down (give yourself some time to do this) and dream…
- – What do you want your life to look like in 1, 5, 10 and 20 years from now?
- – Consider everything from your health & fitness, business & career, family & friends, relationships, finance, personal development, fun & recreation, and spiritual
- – Being as detailed as possible here will help you in the next steps
And step two is to take what you dreamed and visioned and break them down into goals.
When you set goals, they should always be SMART:
- S: Specific
- M: Measurable
- A: Actionable
- R: Relevant
- T: Time-bound
Lets say in 5 years you say you want to run a marathon because you want to have an activity in your life that you can do for yourself, that you enjoy, and that will keep you healthy long term. But right now, you can only run a mile at a time. You can set yourself some SMART goals to help you get to your marathon.
Ex: In 2 months I want to be able to run 3 miles consecutively. My plan is to run 3 days per week for the next two months to help me reach this goal.
Step 3 is to check in with and stay connected to your goals.
The biggest thing to remember when setting your goals is that you should check in with them often and let them adapt and change with you. Maybe you set a goal that you crush and it needs taken to the next level, or maybe you set a real lofty goal that a month in you realize isn’t realistic. That’s ok and it’s all part of the learning process.
Be sure to stay connected to the WHY behind your goals. Referring back to your vision can help with this. When you are connected to why this is important to you, you’ll be much more likely to follow through with it.
And remember, you can instill change ANY DAY not just on January 1st.