Happy New Year to all our amazing clients and community! I hope you have had some downtime with family and friends over Christmas and recharge your batteries after a challenging year.
I know many of us are feeling a little disillusioned after a tumultous 2014. The world feels increasingly volatile and it’s easy to feel vulnerable to factors over which we have little control.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to remind ourselves of the say we have in our own lives.
We CAN turn our goals (and even our dreams) into reality by taking into hand those aspects of our worlds that are very much under our direct control.
Every Christmas, my Dad reminds me to “control my destiny”. We’ve all heard that saying countless times, but I appreciate the reminder that what happens in my life is greatly up to me.
So as we roll over to a new year, and what CAN be a fresh start, it’s worthwhile to take the time to reflect on what we do and don’t want in our lives. To not reflect on the year that was and plan for a year that we want is a wasted opportunity!
New years resolutions are a total waste of time. If they worked, we’d all be at our perfect weight, have stuck to a tight budget, and the cigarette and alcohol industries would have gone bust.
What does work, is conscious habit change, driven by strong desire, and a deliberate plan that sets you up for success!
If you are ready to take the time to reflect on 2014 and make some big plans for 2015, here is a great process of review to follow that I am using:
Reflect on 2014
1. What went well in 2014?
Think big and think small – scoring a great new job, running 5kms non-stop, or sticking to a closed kitchen after dinner. Acknowledge your growth and successes and congratulate yourself! Some changes, once established, we really take for granted, so it’s important to look back and notice our power to change.
2. What would I like to have done differently?
This isn’t a time to beat yourself up, but take a look at choices that have held you back. Was there a bit too much drinking, some careless spending, or did you neglect to take time to plan healthy meals? Did you simply fail to take action on something that you have been talking about doing for a while? If you can’t face up to what’s held you back, you can’t possibly turn it around.
Plan for 2015
3. Choose 3 BIG Goals!
Stretch yourself. Really think about what you want from your life. Even if one of your dreams seems a little bit out of your reach, allow yourself to go there. This is part of having a growth mindset – extending yourself past those things that you already know you can do.
4. How will my life look if I achieve these goals?
This is a wonderful visualisation exercise to make your goals real. Take a few moments to imagine how your life looks and feels when you have made those changes in your life. Make your visualisation vivid, fill in all the details. The more time you spend visualising your life as you want it to be, the more you set up your brain for success in creating those circumstances.
5. For each goal, write down a few sub-goals that help form your action plan.
Think of these goals as process goals. For example, if you have a weight loss goal, you sub-goals might include training five days a week, sleeping 7 hours a night, including protein in every meal and stopping mindless snacking. These goals are so important in piecing together the HOW of your dreams.
6. Create your support crew.
Who can help me achieve my goals? Write down the names of three of four people that can support you in getting to where you want to be. You might want to include your personal trainer, a mentor who can inspire and guide you, and a spouse or friend who you can talk to. Having someone there for emotional support and maybe even keeping you accountable can make the difference between giving up when things get tough and creating the life you want.
7. Think of your obstacles.
What can get in the way of you achieving your goals? Has stress at work typically led you to overeat when you get home? Do you lose sight of sticking to your budget when you feel pressured by your friends? For each of your obstacles, think of an accompanying strategy you can implement to keep you on track. This isn’t about being negative, it’s about having a realistic plan for tackling obstacles which will definitely crop up. Change isn’t easy, otherwise everyone would be doing it!
I really encourage you to give this a go! And I would love to be on your list of support crew. The team at New Image are here to help you create a life you love, both in and out of the gym!
