It’s that time of year when we are supposed to reflect on ourselves and what we want to resolve to improve in the New Year. During this time of reflection it seems natural to look at all you did NOT accomplish this year, what’s bad and needs fixed, and how you are lacking in some way. No wonder so many New Years resolutions are not met when the process starts with a hard look at what you suck at the most. Please sit down and write out all of your bad habits, then list the things you do that are wrong in some way, and finish that list off with anything you feel would make you a more tolerable person. Now pick several of these and resolve to fix them in the next 365 days, or until you decide to give up. That sounds like a fun way to round out your holiday season and end the year!
I’m all for honesty and being realistic, it’s definitely necessary on some levels, but I wonder if there is possibly a better way to start out the new year? Maybe take a more positive approach. Why does this need to be a time of magnifying flaws? I decided once again to take a productive approach by building on strengths and setting realistic goals. In the theme of honesty and realism I could do without the focus on flaws, crying, diving into inspirational quotes and wine drinking the normal approach requires.
I sat down to make my 19 in 19 list yesterday and decided I need a personal list and a health and fitness list. My 18 in 18 list only had one fitness goal on it and I met that pretty early on. It was something to focus on and I used that as a goal as motivation. The biggest challenge this year is thinking about goals for one year from now. A year ago I couldn’t imagine the changes I’ve made or the focus I have now.
The strategies I am using allow me to have a bad day and not feel like a failure. I am setting goals I can accomplish in the first week or month and use it as a launching point. I think this also helps to boost my self esteem by showing I can accomplish something. I also set some long-term goals that use weekly or monthly targets. To me goals are pure guesses sometimes. I set some goals that are intended to be for the year, but maybe I’ll reach them much earlier and that’s great.
I am also choosing to look at what I accomplished this year and how I can build on that in the next year. Writing these out has been eye opening. Here are some of my accomplishments this year.
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- I’ve lost over 20 inches.
- I’ve lost approximately 20 pounds (depending on the day).
- I can run a 10 min mile on the elliptical.
- I can run 2 min intervals on the treadmill.
- I can leg press 398 lbs.
- I have started attending fitness classes.
- I learned I am capable of morning workouts before work.
- I have learned a lot about fitness and exercise including what I’m capable of, how to use 90% of the equipment in the gym, and ways to be more healthy.
- I have found a way to stay focused and how to refocus when I’m losing my motivation.
A year ago I hadn’t even signed up for my gym. I had no idea I would use a trainer. I would have come up with ten excuses about why a class wasn’t for me and I definitely would not have considered morning workouts. The first step is all you need to start. Maybe the only goal or resolution you need is ‘Take the First Step’.
Daring To Do This 