I hate when everyone starts talking about New Year's resolutions. Resolutions don't last because most people associate them with the first of the year. And once the year wears on the resolutions wear out. It's the reason why the first week in January the gyms are all packed. It's also the reason why by the first week of February the gyms go back to business as usual. By that time, most
have given up on their resolutions.
The website oxfordlanguages.com defines a resolution as 'a firm decision to do or not to do something.' And therein lies the problem, when making a New Year's Resolution we tend to forget that making the decision is only the first step. We cannot simply decide to do something. We need to act on it. We need to dig deep and find our why, make a plan and stick to it, create lasting habits and follow through, understand it's a process with ups and downs and learn from our mistakes as we move forward. But so many of us fail because we decide but don't see it through.
I stopped making resolutions years ago. Instead, when a new year rolls around I map out my goals, make a plan, debrief myself on what worked and what didn't work in the previous year and whether I need to revise the plan or try a different approach. Because, let's be honest, there is something about the start of a new year that gives us a sense of hope, new motivation, and an awareness that we can do better (even if for some it's short lived). The key to success is in understanding our own journeys. Because the better we understand ourselves, the deeper we look inside, the more we will find success, what works, what doesn't work, what our triggers are, what our distractions are, and why our goals are important to us. And all this will help us know how to adapt when the journey gives us the inevitable set back.
For me, 2022 started with my trainer asking me 'so what's next?" I had spent all of 2021 undoing the damage of 2020 and now it was time to take it to the next level. And for the first half of 2022 I stuck to my plan, reached my weekly goals and was excited about my progress. But 2022 was also the year my husband entered into a new adventure as an entrepreneur opening a family business. I balanced my summer between my goals and the business. But as time passed it became evident that it was a project bigger than I ever imagined and my role in the business became significant to say the least. Overwhelmingly stressful to say the most. The fact that I had a significant role in the administration and marketing of the business would have been ok had our grand opening not taken place at the exact same time that school was going back for the fall and I had to teach full time during the day while working the business at night. It was a schedule I could not adapt to, nor keep up with while achieving all my goals. I stopped training with my trainer, wasn't getting enough sleep, started snacking and missing meals, and stopped writing. I was derailed.
This was not the first time on my journey that I've been derailed. In the past I managed to adapt and get back on track. And as I watched my goals slip, my habits change and my progress slow I realized I had to do something to get back on track fast. And I began evaluating myself way before it was time for New Year's resolutions. I went back to old habits, stepped back from the business enough to breath and refocused my goals. Now that the business has a flow, my role is better defined, my schedule is more flexible and I am able to make a plan for 2023.
Here are a few things that I did to reset and you can try too!
Write out your goals on a regular basis. Write them down. Don't just say it. Write it.
Set a timeframe to achieve each goal. Choose a deadline that works for you. Make sure it's a doable timeframe. If it is not achievable the chances of you giving up on it are greater.
Make a plan of action. What tasks do you need to do to achieve this goal? How often do you need to do these tasks? When will you do them? Is it a habit that will progress? I recommend using a planner and writing out the course of action.
Adapt and adjust if shit happens. I know life can throw us curve balls when we least expect or need it but it doesn't have to change your goals. When you experience a setback do what you can do to continue to work towards your goal. But adjust and adapt the rest.
Use a habit tracker or check list to keep yourself accountable. Out of sight, out of mind as they say. So make it visible in a place where you will see it, on your phone, on the fridge, on a whiteboard in your office. Whatever works for you!
Find your tribe or fam. Join a group on facebook, at the gym, on an app, etc... of like-minded people reaching for similar goals. We achieve together so much more than what we achieve alone. So lean in.
Celebrate success! Before you begin decide how you will reward yourself when you reach a goal. Choose rewards that you wouldn't normally get or do for yourself that are positive and keep you on track. For example, you reach a strength goal, get a massage.