Are you one of those people who has a million great ideas for the New Year, fail at them all in the first week and then do nothing for the rest of the year? Me too. And eventually, I kind of gave up on resolutions at all. Because I figured if you really wanted to do something, you’d just do it. The New Year for me became about buying stationery supplies. Because stationery.
There are a few things about goals that make them a far better thing to aim for.
1) They are specific. Or they should be. Don’t think ‘I want to be healthier,’ think ‘These are the specific things I am aiming for’ – like a particular amount of exercise in the week, or only having chocolate once a week or whatever it is for you.
2) They are measurable. That’s important. Because you are going to fail some of the time. You aren’t going to be perfect. And you will have a week where things don’t go according to plan. But if they are measurable you can see that one bad day does not undo all the work you’ve done.
3) They are achievable. Which also means that you can have specific milestones along the way so you know you are on your way. Be realistic about time and motivation. Be aspirational, definitely. But don’t set yourself up for failure by going for something that is not going to work with the rest of your life.
4) You can evaluate them. If something is measurable then you can regularly track your progress and gain motivation from how well you are doing.
So what are your goals this year?
I am sure things are going to come up that will cause me to change/rearrange my goals.
I am hoping to keep running and add in some walks.
Keep to a mostly clean diet, all this crap food over the christmas break has left me feeling so ugh. Not going to restrict myself too harshly though, nothing good comes of that.
Agreed! No point sticking to goals once it becomes clear that your circumstances have changed! I’m doing FebFast so had planned on giving up alcohol for that month but thought what the hey I’ll ditch it for January too. I think I might be surprised what it does for my running!
Great advice!! My goal is to get my core muscles nice & strong to support my back, would love to do another marathon this year
Great advice!! My goal is to get my core muscles nice & strong to support my back, would love to do another marathon this year
The only new years resolution that I have ever kept was the one where I decided to not make resolutions again. Goals for this year include developing appropriate training plans to work on strength, core and do my first 10km race and possibly first half too
My main moving goal is to run a half marathon; then depending on how my foot holds up and how much the physio can help said foot, my next goal is either two more half marathons or if that isn’t possible I’ll set some measurable weight training goals.
Also aiming for a much improved diet this year esp drinking more water.
non moving goals include completing our vegie garden and creating a workable home office space!
Joining the local gym to increase my cardio and get my breathing under control i want to be 60 kg by may so its gonna be tough but i will do it just eating clean to improve my health at crap after months of doing so well over xmas and boy did i pay! migraines, stomach aches and sluggishness its really awful . And i think my biggest goal is to get past 5km runs and start getting bigger kms and then work on speed.