A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Dream
Many of us start off the new year with a new year resolution. Typically, three weeks into the new year the pursuit of the resolution has failed and we set it aside feeling defeated or pretend we never had a resolution in the first place. There is now even a date in January that research has shown the majority of people give up their resolution and by the second week of February 80% have given up the resolution. The vast majority of resolutions, 55% are health related. Despite the value of the resolution people still struggle to achieve it.
The question remains WHY??
I see people who have set a goal or a resolution and have tried over and over, often for years to lose weight through dieting with little to no success or have some success but are unable to sustain the weight loss. They feel defeated, their bodies often paying the price with medically related conditions, often requiring medication, creating a financial strain and experience limitations in the way they desire to enjoy their life.
What I try to encourage is not a resolution to lose weight but an intention for a new lifestyle. Part of the biproduct of the new lifestyle will be improved health and weight loss. But, how do we do it? What is the process to get there? How can you be one who keeps their intention in 2020?
We do it through learning, practice and gaining insight, new coping methods and repetition. I can assist with creating new and improved habits. And give you an opportunity to practice and practice and practice with support throughout the process..
Here are a few ideas and places to start.
1. The process first starts with building a better relationship with yourself. Treating yourself with kindness and respect, something to be valued, YOU.
2. Be Positive. Adopting an optimistic mindset. This improves mood which increase enjoyment in daily living. When you view the glass as half-full you have appreciation, when you see the glass as half-empty you focus on what isn’t there vs appreciating what is.
3. Learn to manage stress. There is NO escaping stress, there are only things that can be done to learn to manage it in a productive way. If you need skills you can learn them. Nothing works 100% of the time but think of the quality of life improvement that will come from managing stress better 50% of the time as a start.
4. Increase Focus and Self Confidence. No such thing as productive multitasking. Focus on one thing at a time and believe in yourself and your abilities.
5. Live in the present as we can’t change anything about the past except learning from it.
6. Control your doubting or negative thoughts by learning to redirect them into something positive.
7. Think about your intention and set goals that are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Sensitive.
8. Create a working outline like the example below to focus and create a path for success because a goal without a path is just a dream.
9. Share with your support system to keep you accountable, on track and most importantly for support!
My intention is : To work to adopt a healthier lifestyle in 2020.
My goal is: To improve my health and likely decrease my weight.
My plan is: Describe realistically what you are going to do to achieve your goal and improving your health.
My struggle is typically: Stress Eating and not exercising.
My plan to address my struggle is: After work I will do X instead of turning to food to reduce my stress by X. I will ask X to walk with me 3 times a week.
Nancy Albus, LPC, NCC, CEDS
