With the start of 2020 underway many of us can become overwhelmed with New Year Resolutions. The “New Year New Me” buzz is exciting and can give us the confidence to make bold statements on how to change our habits and become a better version of ourselves. It can be tempting to bite off more than we can chew when we start this process. When preparing for the New Year, it is important to remember the difference between short-term and long-term goals in order to be successful in our personal development. Once you have these goals set, the only thing left to do is SHOW UP!

Short-term Goals:

Short-term goals are a great way to stay on track as we move towards a larger vision. However, it is easy to become overwhelmed when we take on too many seemingly smaller goals at one time. When this happens, we can often think that it takes a lot of changes to improve in a big way. Before long, we are “burning the candle at both ends,” giving ourselves too much to handle and eventually give up. This often sends us back into old comfortable habits that fill us with regret as the year comes to pass. Remember that short-term goals are just stepping stones towards reaching our long-term goals; try to avoid stressing yourself out by overloading your plate with these. I would suggest three to five short-term goals that target a four to twelve week time frame. This will take you through the first quarter of the year with an opportunity to re-evaluate going into quarter two.

Long-term Goals:

Long-term goals are a great way to create big visions while giving adequate time to achieve them. I would suggest setting between one and three of these goals to be accomplished between September and December. This gives you plenty of time to work towards them while accelerating into the year-end and 2021. If you fell short last year in achieving your New Year Resolutions then keep them! Build on them! Enhance them! Evolve them! There is nothing wrong with keeping a goal you set in the past. Remember these should align with key aspects in our lives so we can create healthy habits that lead towards big breakthroughs. Remember, if you slip up one day and become complacent, don't give up, you got this; true change is an ongoing journey!

SHOW UP:

Here are a few action steps you can do to consistently SHOW UP each day as you move towards achieving your New Year Resolutions.

1.) Journal: I find it extremely beneficial to journal throughout the day. You can do this in a notebook or a phone. I use the notepad in my iPhone because I keep it handy throughout the day. Our thoughts can be tricky. Each thought we have often multiplies. Studies have shown that most people have 60-80,000 thoughts in a day. It is incredible! Take the time to get some of these thoughts written out so you can stay present and focus on the task at hand.

2.) Exercise: Take time to exercise at least four times per week. More is better, but four is a good starting point because you will be “winning the week.” I would suggest at least two days of strength training to connect your body to get stronger and then two days of cardio training to strengthen your heart. This is a great way to keep your body and mind in check, which will help you to reach your short and long-term goals.

3.) Enjoy Hobbies: Spend time doing things that you enjoy to do. I enjoy playing the guitar because it slows life down for me and is something completely different that requires building a skill. Hobbies are a great way to give your mind a break, remind yourself to smile and not take the challenges of daily life too seriously. Things seem to work out better when we are in a more relaxed state of mind.

4.) Explore New Things: Take time to learn about new approaches in day-to-day life and experiment with them. I like to incorporate breath work in my daily routine. One of our trainers at Show Up Fitness, Adriano, introduced this technique to me and it has been a lifesaver. Taking five minutes or so to slow down and breathe periodically throughout the day has helped me to stay balanced and present.

Remember, the whole point of New Year Resolutions is to set a new standard of living so we can reach short-term and long-term goals. Small consistent changes can go a long way and make a HUGE impact if we can stay consistent and SHOW UP with action. Please feel free to reach out to me via social media or email if you need any help.

Have a great day!