New Year's Resolutions

By Fit 'N' Well Personal Trainer, Regan Dacey

I definitely have conflicting feelings about New Year’s Resolutions; part nostalgic excitement mixed with flashbacks of disappointment. I like the “fresh start” feeling that the new year offers. My personal trainer side cringes a bit at this because I know working as a trainer with Fit ‘N’ Well that resolutions often lead down the road to nowheresville.

I’m sure there are many people who have achieved the goal they set at the start of a new year, but I feel the majority of resolutions either end up as dreams that never seem to get off the ground, or as goals that lack the planning and commitment necessary to make it through the first few weeks of January.  

After years of making “getting in better shape” as my January 1 resolution, I’ve learned some valuable lessons regarding goal setting for the new year.

The first and perhaps most important lesson is the simplest: If you’re not willing to make this goal work on some random Thursday in March or July or November, why expect that it will work just because it’s January 1^st?

You can begin working on your goals at any time, so unless you’ve put the time and effort required to plan your goal-setting strategy to line up with starting the new year, “setting goals” for January 1 is simply buying into the “don’t waste another year!” hype.

(On a personal note: If you have goals, don’t waste another year! Also, don’t wait for January 1 to start your journey!)

There are goals which may be better suited to a resolution due to their nature and timeframe – and let’s face it, your interest in doing the activity plays a huge role. If your goal is reading 50 books in 52 weeks using Instagram or your blog to track your progress, it’s kind of a ready-built SMART goal; the goal is specific, measurable, attainable, (if you’re into reading on a consistent basis) relevant/realistic, (again, if you’re an avid reader, this is a very realistic goal) and time-based.

Going “all in” and changing your entire life to become healthy seems attractive, but it might be difficult to turn this into a SMART goal where new and healthy habits can be formed. Because that’s really the point, you know – creating new, healthy habits. If you generally dislike working out and refuse to make healthy choices regarding your diet, how long will the all-in approach last?

Ask yourself some simple questions: What (specifically) is my goal? What is the deadline for completion? Is the goal both attainable and realistic given your current work and life commitments? What motivates you to succeed? How do you plan to stay accountable? What supports do you have in place?

Successfully completing a goal set for the new year is not impossible, but a goal at any time takes planning and commitment. To start the new year off with a healthy goal, what about something a little more SMART-oriented that you can build on as the year progresses? Some of my favourite suggestions include:

-        Plan to get 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night for a month.

-        Set an evening cutoff at least an hour or two before bed for device usage.

-        Staying hydrated! Work on increasing your water intake if you’re not getting enough.

-        Plan to make and take your own lunch to work/school every day for a month.

-        Make and take your own coffee to work/school every day for a month.

While these may not be as impressive as a complete lifestyle overhaul--complete with calorie-counting charts, lists of macros, and new running shoes for the gym--gaining success in one or two smaller areas allows you to build your self-effiicacy, which in turn helps you to build confidence in continuing to set and achieve your goals. You could also consider talking to a professional, like a personal trainer, at any time of the year to help you work towards living a healthier life! Happy New Year!