This is not just a new year, but also a new decade. Have a think back to the dawn of the new millennium; what were you doing this time last year, and how far have you come? Did you set yourself goals and create plans for what you were going to do? Regardless, in what way have things changed and how are you now?
Think about what has gone well for you, and make sure you do more if this.
Think about what hasn’t gone well, what your part in them was and what you can learn from this
Think about the future and what you want to do. Do you have dreams you have abandoned, what would help take your life to the next level? What are you tolerating that you want to get rid of?
Are you where you want to be in your career? Do you know where you want to be in 1, 3, 5 and more years time?
What about your health – is it as good as it can be, what baby changes could you introduce? Should you be looking to make changes that are more radical?
Think about your relationship with others – family, friends and the wider community. We all differ in what we want; do you have the relationships you do want?
What about your personal development – your interests, your passions, they way you grow and develop as a person.
Some of us will set goals, just because it is the start of a new year, and for most people within a week the goals will have been forgotten. But you don’t have to set a goal on the 1st of a year, you can set them at any time, and better to take some time to set the right goal for you. Too often, we can look back and wish we had started something back then, but we can’t change the past, but we can get started on a new future.
3 months ago, I got on the scale and was full of regret for the 3 stone I’d gained in less than 3 years, but wishing it hadn’t happened wasn’t going to get the weight off. I decided to make massive changes and did a radical over haul of what I ate and were focused on exercise with a personal trainer. It’s certainly not been easy but to lose 2.5 stone in 3 months is right on my target. Having a target has really helped, and telling my trainer each week and writing on my blog has helped me keep focused, the last thing I wanted to do was to have to write about putting weight on!
So if you decide to set some goals here’s some advice
1. Write them down – it begins to take more of your attention.
2. put the list where it is visible – a post it note on your bathroom mirror, on your computer or both?
3. If you have a big goal, like my weight loss, break it down into smaller goals so you have mini rewards along the way.
4. Tell people – once you start talking with others you will feel more accountable.
5. It’s good to have stretch goals but make sure you have an intermediate goal you can reach.
6. Feel good for the progress you make and don’t be discouraged by an occasional set back just get back on track again.
7. be aware you might be sabotaged by other people so keep your focus strong and learn to say no!
8. You will probably have more than one goal so have some that are easy and that can quickly be accomplished, this will then help you get focused on the more long term goals.
9. Put some timescales around your goals and prioritise what you want to achieve.
10. Think about support – I have a personal trainer to help with my health and fitness goals, what sort of support will work best for you?
There is no moment like the present. The man who will not execute his resolutions when they are fresh upon him can have no hope from them afterwards; they will be dissipated, lost, and perish in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the slough of indolence. -Marie Edgeworth