Yes, I made a list. I'm list-oriented. But I didn't make lofty resolutions I know I will give up on.
Last year, I experienced my first year (appropriately my first year out of college) of transitioning and "living out" my life instead of just writing down what I wanted it to look like.
If I felt like reading one night instead of chatting on facebook, that's what I spent my time doing. If I wanted to go hiking, I made short term plans and started packing. If I wanted to learn to swing dance, I went to the free event at Centennial. If I wanted to eat Mexican, and no one was with me, I went. Alone. One change at a time, over months, made a very smooth transition into the new year. I had been picking up new and healthier habits, like budgeting and saving money, and I slid right in to the new year without feeling pressure to "make resolutions".
Instead, I decided to focus in on specific ways to improve.
Setting resolutions isn't why people fail to keep them. It's because their goals aren't well-set.
Goals should be practical and should expand on your already established habits.
So here are some goals I've made for myself and how I intend on keeping them:
1. Host two zumbathons for charity. First, I decided a theme for my year, which is service. In finding ways to serve and give, I used what I already had (Zumba Instructor) and found a way to combine them. I looked up how to plan a zumbathon, and it is a really great cause that doesn't take too much preparation. It's very doable.
2. Compete in Body Shop Fitness's annual powerlifting competition. I have already been working out for years and have even already concentrated my training. But at the competition in 2013, I realized not many girls competed. Deadlift is a good event to enter. It is something I am already decently strong in. I recently maxed out at 215 lbs! So competing, to me, is just the logical next step.
3. Read 1 book every 2 months. Irony at it's finest, right here. I am not known for my love of literature, but I have already been in the process of reading 4 books. I think this goal is reasonable because I have already started a few and this way I'm encouraged to finish them all, but not rushed to where it overwhelms me.
You may very well know how to make goals, but if you just signed up for a new gym or started throwing out all the sweets in your house, you may need a new perspective on the new year. With each day, consider how to live life better. As you narrow in on your passion and what you want the theme of your year to be, you can start thinking of how you want that to look as the year progresses.
Here's to moving forward!
Laugh. Inspire. Believe. Love.