Think.
Think about the most common questions you hear at the end of every year. They occur in December and early January.
“Are you ready for Christmas?”
“Do you have a New Year’s resolution?”
Goals, Goals, Goals...
Why are New Year’s Resolutions such a big deal? Goal setting and the desire to change is so important that weight loss products and self-help books replace the after-Christmas sale items. Gym memberships soar. Attendance peaks. Workouts then wane until swimsuit season hits.
Why do we not talk about our resolutions past the 1st or 2nd week of January?
It’s because our goals and desires to improve aspects of our life do not turn into ingrained lifestyle changes.
Goodbye Resolutions.
I usually fall into the camp of:
“I don’t make resolutions.”
Most of us barely remember resolutions of years past, but there usually is a common theme – lose weight, eat right, exercise more, work smarter, reduce stress, spend more time with family.
Goal Setting
Goal setting is ingrained in my psyche, even if resolutions are not. I thrive on setting and executing planned steps to achieve goals.
My husband reminded me of a situation from a few years ago soon after we got married. We sat down for dinner, and I brought my Franklin Planner to the table. It was 7:00ish, and he had worked 11 hours that day. I asked him,
“What is your goal for tonight?”
He stared blankly, looked at my Planner on the table and said,
“You gotta be kidding?”
Okay, so where is the balance? Is it possible to be less driven? Does one have to be accomplishing a goal and checking an item off the task list every minute of the day and night? <cough>
It requires the setting of different goals, turning new behaviors into habits.
Hello Lifestyle Change!
I’m saying “goodbye” to the thought of a resolution and am making a big lifestyle change. I have to, period.
2010 begins a lifestyle change I have to keep.
I have to reduce stress for health reasons, doctor’s orders.
I’m starting by reducing my work commitments. It scares me. I don’t know if I can not work 150%.
Confession, I’m a workaholic!
I will work to meet a deadline even if it means sitting in the chair until my back aches. I chose work over the things that are important to me – family, friends, bike rides, eating right and sleeping. It’s a cycle that, even though it is unhealthy, I do it over and over again. I’ve imbibed in workaholism a lot lately. It’s time to go “dry” to a place of balance, a place where work is passion in perspective.
The year-after-year pace of being a Type A personality and a competitive athlete has taken a toll. I’m slowing down the “need for speed” to simplify.
The following are my 2010 goals as determined during the Christmas holiday:
2010 Goals
Today I read,
“Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year … be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
My 2010 lifestyle change will involve starting out each day with prayer, reading and planning, add in some yoga, occasional physical therapy, exercise and a consistent whole foods diet. I will keep working but with tighter reign on projects and deliverables. I’m memorizing the following in order to live it out:
Reduce stress. Live simply. Build health. Work passion. Help others.
Two popular sayings come to mind…
“Stop and smell the roses.”
“Work smart not hard.”
Now, I think that’s a lifestyle change I can grab onto!
{ 2 comments }
wow. yeah, I need to say for me, it’s about the fact I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Seriously Dana – for all the things I’ve faced in life over the years and successfully changed course, it was with a lifestyle change, so just my opinion, but I’d say you’re right on track for being right where you need to be.
And focusing on the lifestyle change is much more likely to result in success than playing the “resolution” card that our society builds up while simultaneously setting people up for “acceptable” failure because it’s essentially a joke more than serious life commitment.
Wow. that was a rant.
LOVE YA!
Oh, Alan! THANK YOU and so appreciate the love and encouragement!
Interesting take that breaking resolutions are considered “acceptable failure.” After working close to 15-hours straight today, I’m sure glad I didn’t make a resolution.
Serious life commitment is key, yes, well said!
It can also mean big steps … My lifestyle change involves returning to consulting/self-employment and working on select projects in order to balance, to live more holistically, and to spend time with family and friends (online and offline).
Thanks for being such a great friend! I’ll be “seeing” more of you in a few weeks!
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