There’s something intriguing about starting with a clean slate. Just the thought of it can inspire hope and spark the belief that change is possible. Creating change and clearing a path towards renewed goals is an exciting and very real possibility. Sometimes that means leaving the past in the past; out with the old and in with the new. But only if the old is no longer serving us well. Very often there are things about the past we should keep. Acknowledge lessons learned before moving on.
As we ring in the New Year we are flooded by suggestions of self improvement. Just last week my smartwatch challenged me to close my exercise ring for seven days straight in January in order to “earn a badge”. I had to smile as I felt a twinge of motivation to accept the challenge in order to receive a virtual reward from my watch! Should I accomplish this small goal my watch will not benefit- but I will. So why not? I thought. Granted my greatest motivation doesn’t come from my watch. Although it does give me some pretty important reminders during the day like “time to stand” and “time to breathe”. I’m not really competitive by nature nor am I a perfectionist but I do like to challenge myself to do better.
Studies show that accomplished goals are those that have an emotion attached; those that tug at the heart a bit. For example, one of my goals for 2022 is to exercise in the morning before I leave for work. The reason for this is, I find when I don’t, the day gets away from me and I either exercise too late at night (which for me, interferes with a good night’s sleep) or it doesn’t happen at all. To break that down a bit further, the reason I exercise is because I want to stay healthy and I know exercise is an important component to that end. And, the reason I want to stay healthy is to have the energy I need to enjoy life to the fullest. In the short term that means enjoying the important celebrations coming up this year- our daughter’s wedding for one. Of course for me, this is the goal that has the most emotion attached!
So where does your motivation come from? If making resolutions and setting goals is something you do every year with a rate of success that doesn’t get you past February, believe that with a different approach, this year can be different. This year, take the time to Reflect, Reset and be Realistic.
Reflect: Reflecting on the bright spots of the previous year can be a great source of motivation. Even if there were fewer good times than bad, allow yourself to focus on those good times, putting aside what may have gone wrong. Allow the good memories to act as a springboard to get you moving in the right direction. As for those not so good times, take a look at those next. Before setting goals, it’s important to draw on the strength of lessons learned from both positive and negative experiences as this can truly propel you forward. (Remember that Holiday game of “keep or toss”? Same concept but a bit more motivating.)
Reset: When the clean slate of a new year beacons us to set goals, a good place to start is with the things we can control; and fortunately better health falls under that category. When it comes to being healthier, will you allow 2022 to make your health choices for you as the year unfolds or, will you make the decision to take control? If your decision is to take control, write down your goals. (I resisted doing this for years and found it really makes a difference when I do.) Make your list a progression of smaller steps that lead to a bigger goal. You may want to keep some previous goals that may just need adjusting.
Be Realistic: Get rid of the all or nothing attitude and start where you are. Don’t compare your rate of progress to that of another. Allow smaller goals to be the stepping stones and celebrate each victory! Goals can be adjusted as needed. When making adjustments, remember it’s progress over perfection. 1% at a time. If your goal is to drink more water, and you are presently drinking 16 ounces a day, make your first goal 18 ounces rather than taking it to 64 in one sweep. With any goal, accept that you may slip up. Forgive yourself and continue forward. Choose your path to better health carefully. Avoid diets and instead look for a program that is based on science, and can become a way of life.
By taking the time to Reflect, Reset and be Realistic, this year can truly be different.
Support helps. Blocking out negative voices-even your own helps. Being accountable helps. You don’t have to announce your goal to the entire town like I did. As a matter of fact that is not recommended. It’s best to choose a trusted individual who will be honest with you. Celebrating victories no matter how small ( like my smartwatch badge) helps.
So as the New Year rolls out its vast array of possibilities, practice gratitude for the bright spots of the previous year and clear the way for new beginnings. And remember, if you don’t know where to start-start with your health. Happy New Year! You can do this!
