We have all been there. January 1st of a New Year and we feel we have to make a self-improvement goal. It has become common place, as if it is a social norm in our culture. So much so, that it is a topic of conversation for many. Do you know why we do this?
HISTORY OF NEW YEARS
The roots of New Year Resolutions go back 4000 years. While some cultures around the world still follow a lunar calendar and have New Years at different times, the majority of the world looks to January 1st as the time for new beginnings and setting resolutions.
ARE RESOLUTIONS ATTAINABLE?
So, here we are, January 1st. What will your resolution be?
The most common resolutions are losing weight, eating better, getting out of debt, saving more money; or finally quitting smoking! All good ideas. Yet all likely going to fail. Why? Because typically, resolutions are far too general. “This year I’m going to lose weight” or “This year I’m going to save money.” Studies have even labelled January 12th as “Quitters Day”. Because by this date, the majority of people have already let their resolutions go or have started to slip in their commitments. Less than 1-2 weeks later it happens and has probably happened at some point in your life. When a resolution fails, the downward spiral begins. So perhaps this year, instead of making a resolution, we do something different.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals – What are they?
Often used in business and education, SMART goals are a way to make a resolution in a different way. The acronym stands for:
S – Specific – the goal you are setting is specific and strategic
M – Measurable – the success of your goal can be measured in a tangible way
A – Attainable – the goal is action oriented, agreed upon (if you have a support system) and achievable
R – Reasonable – your goal is reasonable and realistic
T – Time bound – you have an end date that is trackable
Using a SMART goal instead of a resolution allows for the very general “I’m going to lose weight” to become a goal you can actually hold yourself accountable to and work toward.
Example. By March 30th, my goal is to lose 15 pounds.
TAKE RISKS and STEPPING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
If March 30th comes and you’ve met your goal, you may be ready to change your focus. This is a great time to do that. Maybe you have always wanted to try a 5 km run or participate in a Mud Run with your family. Sign up! The goal is not the weight loss now, it is fitness and trust me, you will continue to see changes in your body as you train for whatever event you choose.
Julie’s Story:
5 years ago, I had a goal to run a 5 km. Before I had time to really think about what I was doing, I signed up and paid the money. It was a slow process but as I trained I felt my cardiovascular health and stamina improving and my legs getting stronger and soon the hill I had to walk up, I was able to run. Then, my competitive spirit kicked in and it became about time goals. I didn’t want to be last and I wanted to try to run my 5 km in under 40 minutes. The day of the run, I was nervous. I was completely out of my comfort zone but I had done the work. I knew I could run the entire 5km at a reasonable pace. With the help of my trainer, who ran at my pace which was much slower than mine, I finished that 5km run in 37 minutes. I wasn’t breaking any time records but the sense of accomplishment I felt that day stayed with me for a long time. It was at that finish line that I really understood that in order to change and in order to grow you have to be uncomfortable for a while. Did I love the early morning runs, the hill training and the sore knees? Not really. But what I did love is seeing myself becoming more confident, stronger mentally, physically and emotionally!
This year, we invite you to do something that challenges you! Set 1 or 2 SMART Goals. Write them down, reach out for support from friends and family or your practitioner at FORM! Do something that makes you a little uncomfortable. Sign up for a race, start lifting weights, go to a yoga class or a dance class. Do something that pushes you to take a step outside of that comfortable bubble. You never know what could happen!
FORM Health 