January 1st is here! With the emphasis on resolutions this time of year, it’s so important to have clear expectations. Recognizing that the majority of resolutions fall by the wayside after a few weeks to a couple months, develop some mental strategies to increase your resolution stamina, if you will. Find a way to make those goals sustainable.
How, you ask? To start, break a goal down into actionable steps.
For example…
- Say you’re going to train for a 5K / half-marathon / ironman. It’s probably not the wisest decision to start off pushing yourself to the extreme. Rather, start off with small increases in your exercise and endurance routines, and add to it incrementally over time.
- This will not only be the best for your body in terms of physical conditioning, it will also empower you mentally – small steps towards goals make a big difference AND are hugely more sustainable.
- If you start off pushing yourself with 10 mile runs when you’re used to a 1 mile jog, you’re much more likely to burn out quickly and you’ll be adding undue physical stress.
Also, it’s so important to note here: PROGRESS, not perfection, is what matters. Just like a work of art, your life is never going to be “perfect” – although it can be perfectly imperfect when you’re true to yourself (not only was philosophy one of my majors in college, I’m also a romantic when it comes to quotables).
Knowing that perfection is irrelevant, then, the way forward to our goals is one step at a time – progress. Progress happens daily, hourly, monthly, however you want to frame it; the important part is that it happens.
“People overestimate what can be done in one year, and underestimate what can be done in ten.”
Attributed to Bill Gates (several other notable figures have made similar statements).
I’d have to agree with Mr. Gates here. When I think about where I was one year ago versus ten years back: whoa. Huge, MASSIVE difference that I never could have anticipated. And it started with one step, and then another.
The time is going to pass anyway, so why not do something productive with it? Something that moves you, and others, forward in life? Take a step – a small one is all it takes. The universe likes momentum.
May you be well, and Happy New Year 🙂
The information provided here is not intended to replace medical advice or to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Please consult your doctor with specific questions and prior to beginning any significant diet or lifestyle changes.