I want to start with that I totally agree with all of the insta-bloggers that just because it is a new year doesn’t mean that you have to wait to start conquering goals or that you should even make new goals just because the calendar page turned again. However, if you are looking for a push to get motivated using the new year is a great time to do it because you are automatically given a clean slate making a fresh start easy.
As we prepare for the new year making party arrangements and figuring out the perfect outfit for tomorrow night, more than likely you are thinking about what you would like to see for yourself in the 2018 year. We all know of the beloved New Year’s Resolutions that make the gym full and it impossible to get into your normal spin class for the month of January. You deal with it because come February, most people (maybe even me…) have given up on their resolutions and everything goes back to how it was. Peace and finally my gym machine is free. So why do we go into a new year with such gumption and then one month later we’re deflated balloons? Setting extreme expectations is usually the cause but we all do it. Go big or go home, right?! Which usually means attempting to go big and then just going home anyways. A for at least you tried. What if we look at setting goals for the year a little differently to avoid letting all of the helium out of our tanks by February? Below are a few atypical recommendations on how to set and reach goals throughout the entire 2018 year.
How to be a goal digger…
- THE BIG PICTURE: New Year’s Resolutions shouldn’t be just for January and more than likely you didn’t intend for them to be. What does your end goal represent? For example, let’s say you want to start putting more fruits and vegetables in your diet to lose weight. Why do you want to lose weight? If you don’t have a reason to lose weight then it makes it incredibly hard to keep up with putting more fruits and vegetables in your diet if it is not a normal thing. A few great reasons to lose weight are to gain more energy so you can play with your kids/dog, may help your body function better, or better yet, may lower your risk for chronic disease. Seeing the bigger picture of what your goals may do for you in the long run makes it easier to stick to them.
- ASSESS AND ADJUST: Make January about assessment. Go ahead and set those ridiculous expectations and goals that you’re going to do anyways and try them out! Figure out what you like and what works for you. So you weren’t able to only cook at home and never eat out? That’s ok! Maybe you found yourself eating out less but not never. Now that you figured that out, in February alter your goal so that it is still a challenge but attainable. Eat something at/from home 17 out of the 21 meals a week. Or, if it was too hard to have a 1000 calorie deficit a week, try 750 for February. At the end of January, reevaluate your initial goals to make them sustainable. I am pretty positive there is no written rule that says once you write down a goal it is written in stone. If that rule exists, it’s literally back from the stone age days and therefore it is moot.
- CHECKIN’ IN: Make a point in each month to check in with your goals. If you haven’t already picked out a 2018 planner, I highly recommend the Passion Planner. At the end of each month it has you evaluate how your month went. The planner also has you draw mind maps which have been an amazing tool for me when setting and conquering goals. Either way, checking in each month forces you to keep up with what goal you had originally set (even if it has been altered a few times) to make sure you are making positive strides towards dominating that goal.
- MAYBE DON’T REPEAT?: If for the past 5 years you have set the SAME exact NYR’s and every year you give up 8 days in, then maybeeee choose something else. Step outside of the box and come up with some new goals! Train to climb a 14’er! Study for the GRE! Finally take the first step towards having your dream job! It doesn’t always have to be about getting in shape and saving money. But, if you are so gung-ho on that tried-and-true resolution to stick THIS time, go back to my first point and give some reason behind it so it is not a failure. Another option is to create a new plan on achieving that goal. For instance, let’s say that getting into shape has been on the top of your list for FOREVER and you have always said that you are going to go to the gym a certain amount of days a week. That gets boring and lasts for two weeks. There is SO much more out there. Try different activities and pick a few you enjoy so you never get bored and you’re more than likely to stick with it. I personally love activities that make me forget I am exercising such as hiking or skiing.
I am incredibly excited for 2018! The year to come is what you make of it and as long as you’re doing something every day that will make your future self proud, you’ll never have a bad year. Conquering goals is FO’SHO a way to make yourself proud.
If you are looking for someone to get you on the right track for any type of nutrition related goal, I am here to help! Having someone to hold you accountable is a great way of achieving success. I will keep my specials up until Friday, January 5th. Email me at nutritionpreferred@gmail.com to get healthy in 2018!
Eat like you want to live forever,
Cayla
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