MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2023 - GOALS

 MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2023 - GOALS

Okay, it is the New Year - time for New Year’s Resolutions

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The reality is that many people set New Year’s Resolutions and don’t keep them.  

Examples:

I’m going to exercise every day this year

I’m going to watch my diet this year

I’m going to lose 20 pounds this year

I’m not going to procrastinate this year

I’m going to make my bed every day

I’m going to wash my dishes every day (or when the dishwasher is full)

I’m going to do my homework on time

I’m going to take out the trash without complaining this year

I will write my blog at least two days early this year!!! (yeah, really)

I’m going to call my children at least once a month

I’m going to watch my finances better this year and save at least $300 a month.  

(You get the idea - there are a lot of things we could make as resolutions and not keep).

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(From Setting Better New Year’s Resolutions: Tips From a Psychiatrist | Everyday Health)

This resource says:

“As 2023 slowly approaches, so does the recognition that I have made little headway on this past year’s resolutions.

“From resolving to exercise more, eat better, and tackle a (now even longer) list of household tasks — I fell way short of what I felt at the time were reasonable (albeit recycled) goals.

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That source suggests: “setting up the community and space around you toward reaching a resolution leads to better success than going at it alone.”.  

In my words - (1) do you have an accountability person (or persons)?, and (2), do you have a supportive environment?

Examples:

You want to lose weight, but nobody is “holding your feet to the fire”?  It might take one of two basic approaches - pay the money and get a coach and a standard time at a gym.  If you go or if you don’t go, you are paying for the coach.  The coach is supportive - not harsh, not condemning, but sits with you planning out menus, having you fill out everything you put in your mouth. (Yes, that leftover Christmas candy needs to be accounted for.  You need to get over the “Gee Coach, I wrote down everything I ate and I still gained weight”.  HONESTY TO YOURSELF!!!

Saying “it doesn’t count, I’m just eating up leftover chocolates” doesn’t make it.  

Aside.  Two years ago - (repeat) TWO YEARS AGO).  A friend gave me three (THREE) jars of chocolate-covered coffee beans).  They are still in my cupboard (sealed tightly).  I like chocolate.  I’m not necessarily a big fan of chocolate-covered coffee beans - but since I don’t have any other chocolate in the apartment (okay - other than the hot cocoa mix) I’m reaching for these chocolate-covered coffee beans.  Note to self.  THROW THEM OUT.  I don’t care if the three jars cost my friend $500. It isn't working towards my goals. 

You know from past experience that for you, you need to exercise to lose weight (not the online diets where you just eat sensibly - but FOR YOU - you need to exercise to lose weight.  So here it is 9:30 p.m. and you didn’t do anything even remotely close to exercise today.  DOH!!!  

Do you have somebody checking your scale?  Do you cheat on the scale?  I’m going to put on my skimpy shorts rather than my heavy denim jeans for my weigh-in today!!!  If you are up a pound, be honest about it!!  Tell your accountability partner that you are up a pound and talk about it!!!

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You want to stop smoking, but your spouse smokes.  At work, you can go out on the loading dock and smoke with the “guys”.  Not a supportive environment.

You go out to eat with a friend once a week (yes, I do), and you order the Grand Slam breakfast at Denny’s with PANCAKES and you pour half a gallon of syrup on those pancakes!!!  I need to work with my friend (who also tells me she needs to lose weight) and agree to harass each other for getting inappropriate food.  (Yes, Denny’s also has salads!!)

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ACCOUNTABILITY - AND - ENVIRONMENT

Okay, I have the tendency to think I can do my goals on my own without being open (and honest) about them!!!  My thought is - if I don’t reach my goals - so what.  Only I know I failed (and I’m really good about rationalizing that I missed my goals!!!

More this week.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS
KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, JANUARY 2, 2023