Happy new year beautiful people and welcome 2023…How did that happen?!
As we say goodbye to 2022, many of us will also be saying hello to a new years’ resolution. Whilst I am not a fan of cliches’, I am an advocate for positive change and so, if January gives you the motivation for self-improvement then I wish you every success in your goals.
It is no secret that health and fitness-related resolutions are a popular choice. Maybe even more so since the pandemic and the ongoing changes since. If you have ever been a regular gym-goer, you will know that January brings around a plethora of new faces. You will also know that almost all of these newbies will have disappeared by the time spring rolls in. Similarly, most NY resolutions are quick to become dreams rather than goals, even when they are started with the best intentions. No shade-throwing here! Just stating the facts. Why? Changing a habit, creating a new routine, or starting something new is not easy. But that doesn’t mean it has to be hard. With the right approach and mindset, you’ll have all the tools you need to make 2023, and every year thereafter, one where you accomplish your goals and more. Here are 5 simple rules to help:
- Keep it simple and realistic. Sure, you might want to get a pay rise, spend more time with the family, get fit, eat more healthily, walk more, TV less, drink less alcohol and more water… but you’re only human. Biting off more than you can chew is going to leave you feeling overwhelmed. It is great to aspire to these improvements but, in order to succeed, you want to set smaller more obtainable goals to move you towards those bigger goals – one step at a time.
For example – if you had all of the goals above you might decide to make one small change every week. Week 1 – you swap 1 hour of your usual “TV time” for family time (You could even go for a walk together for some exercise #birdsandstones). Week 2, continuing on with your week 1 change, you dedicate 1 hour to your health/fitness – this could be going to the gym, going for a jog, walking the dog, meal prepping some healthy food for the week, or meditating. Slowly you will be building up your good habits into a new routine in a manageable way. - Make it personal and poignant. It is easy to pick something generic, perhaps because there are many things you want to work on. More common still to choose something you feel you should be doing rather than something that feels important to you. Without a genuine personal desire to reach your goals, your willpower is likely to waiver at the first sign of struggle. If/ or when the going gets tough, you’re going to need to remember what you want, why you want it and how you’re going to get there to keep you on track. #yougotthis
- Don’t fall into the “diet start on a Monday” trap! NY resolutions have a tendency to start and end under this philosophy. Let me explain… You want to go on a diet/go to the gym/’insert goal here’. Being human, we like order. We like to start things at a time we associate with a beginning. This makes Monday the king of days. January the king of Months. The 1st the king of dates and so on… So Monday comes – your diet starts. At some point during the week, as is inevitable, you break your diet #whoboughtthebiscuits #itstartedwithone. Instead of accepting your indulgence, letting it go, and continuing with your diet as planned. That blip brings around the ‘Now I’ve messed up I might as well enjoy myself for the rest of the day and start again tomorrow…’ mindset. If every time you stray off course, you start over. You’re going to get into an endless loop that is not only going to take more and more motivation to keep going but is not going to bring you the results you are looking for. Instead, when you have decided on your goals, use that motivation to make that the start. After all, there is no time like the present. When you hit a hurdle in your plan, try not to allow it to throw your mindset off course. Instead, remember your goals, and accept that there are going to be ups and downs, and that is part of the journey. The occasional faux pas is not going to derail your overall success unless you allow it to get into your head. Diets can start on any day 😉
- Spread the word. This doesn’t mean you have to shout your goals from the rooftops or tell everyone you know. (Although if this floats your boat then don’t hold back!) But rather, spreading the word is about committing to your goal in the real world. Thinking something in your head can be very different from saying it out loud. Ever had the perfect conversation in your head only to find your words fail you when you come to have it in person? The spoken word is a powerful tool. Use it. It’s great to talk to your nearest and dearest as they can often offer extra motivation and support. But, if you don’t want to share it with friends/family/colleagues etc… there are many other outlets that can give you support and encouragement. E.g. online forums for people with the same/similar goals, local support groups, posting online… #sharingiscaring
- Attitude trumps action. When we set a goal, we are really striving for a change in our current actions. For instance if your goal is a healthier diet, your required actions might be; replacing processed food with fresh whole foods, increasing water intake and reducing alcohol, grilling food instead of frying it. Or say your goal is to run a 10k – your actions would be to start running, slowly increasing your frequency and distance until you reach 10k. The fact is, most of us know the actions we need to take in order to achieve our goals, so why do so many of us struggle to execute them? Attitude! Attitude is the driving force behind your actions. Knowing HOW to do something doesn’t mean you will do it. So, whilst it is important to know what steps you need to take, the thing that is going to get you there is attitude. Your thoughts are your reality – your mindset has a huge impact on how you behave. Use that to your advantage. Instead of focussing on the actions you need to take, think about WHY you set that goal in the first place. Imagine yourself having achieved that goal. How does it feel? Giving your attention to all the positives you’ll get from making these changes is going to give you the power, incentive and motivation to put those actions into place! #mindmatters #attitudeoveraction #positivethoughts
Hopefully, you’re more motivated than ever to smash your 2023 goals. Whatever you are hoping to achieve this year, I wish you every success. May 2023 be full of love, laughter, health and happiness.
Until next time
Tx