Resolutions and Goals

one step + another step = a journey

Creating change in your life is a multi-step process and a few days ago I referenced the first part, defining what your goal is in terms that can be defined and monitored. 

In relation to that is the second part, selecting goals that are reasonable and can be achieved. Many times people, in the excitement of visualizing their new selves, pick goals far too ambitious or even impossible to achieve. When those goals don't materialize they get disappointed and the goal, along with any positive change, dies. 

In writing this I am thinking about physical fitness (but these concepts apply to any change). I see my gym, which has a hard core contingent of a few hundred regulars, on the verge of overflowing with novices attempting to be Adonises by Valentine's Day. In my world they have a scientific name, jockus temporous. 

They hit their workouts hard, showing up right after work and going full tilt for as long as they can hold up. Ellipticals, free weights, yoga, classes--they jump into all of it without the proper physical preparation (stretching), nutrition (they skipped breakfast to cut calories) or mental preparation to understand what they are working on and how to get it. 

After a day or two, maybe a week or two at best, they start finding reasons to skip. They are tired and sore and sore of heart too and just want a day or two to chill and watching the tube. Soon workouts happen once and while and by the time the spring frost has broken the population of the gym is back to normal.

How can this be avoided? Being realistic about the change you want to achieve. Want to lose sixty pounds? Awesome! But don't expect to do so in a few months. That is a long term plan and requires small goals of a pound or two a week for real change to take place. This means real committed work and planning--prioritizing the gym over happy hour, couch time and the new season of Jersey Shore. 

Set a goal of seven pounds a month and go a few months to see if the plan is realistic. If it is, awesome, keep up the good work! :) And if it not, don't stop and reach for the Fritos. Figure out what else needs to be adjusted--workout time, workout intensity, diet, alcohol intake--and see what makes sustainable change happen for you. 

Okay, we've got a goal that is (1) measurable and (2) reasonable. What's next?

Picking a goal you really want.