Setting Goals for the New Year
02.01.22
Written by Molly Roper
As another New Year’s Eve rolls around, people start asking ‘what’s your New Year’s Resolution?’ Some people hate them, others love making one every year… However you feel about it, this time of year generally brings feelings of reflection and anticipation of how things might be different next year.
As Personal Trainers, we see a lot of people signing up for the gym at the start of a new year, eager to get started on their ‘Get Fit Project’, which don’t get me wrong, we LOVE to see! It’s awesome welcoming all you motivated people into the gym, to our PT sessions and our classes. But here’s a little secret - ‘motivation’ has an expiry date! Even for us trainers, we are definitely not springing out of bed every single day of the year bursting with motivation for training! So what’s our secret to keep going, even when the January 1st buzz wears off?
Make it a HABIT!
Habits win over motivation in the long run. When you’re busy, tired, or stressed, the last thing you feel like doing is a workout… but if it’s part of your weekly or daily routine, you’ll get it done whether or not you feel like it!
So this January, rather than focusing on a huge goal, or wishing for a certain long-term outcome, focus on a single habit. Something you can do each day, or each week, that you can tick off your checklist and know that it is leading you to where you want to go, or who you want to be.
Your Recipe for Success:
If you do have a big, long-term goal, that’s great! Write it down. Put it somewhere safe. Then set a reminder in your phone or calendar to look at it in one month’s time, and see if you are progressing toward it.
Meanwhile, write down some small steps you could take each day toward that goal. Or maybe it's just one thing each week. The smaller the better in my humble opinion! Now, write that down too, and this time put it somewhere you’ll see every day, like on your bathroom mirror, or on your fridge.
Try to schedule the exact time you’ll do your task or habit. For example, if you’re aiming to get to the gym 3 days a week, schedule the exact time for each workout.
If you miss a day, or even a week, it’s ok! Just pick up where you left off.
Each month when you take out your big goal and check your progress, think about what changes you could make to do a little better next month. If something isn’t working for you, change it.
Enjoy the journey!
Need some extra help with goal setting and planning? Contact us today and find out how we can help!
