Happy New Year everyone!!! Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions this year? I have gone back and forth throughout the years from focusing on one goal or giving up one thing for an entire year to creating a list of resolutions & goals by month for the year. I have found I have the biggest success in actually achieving my New Year’s Resolutions when I focus on one at a time by doing a 12 month series which includes one new goal each month.
They say that it takes 21 days to form a habit so the goal is to have a new “habit” formed each month and end the year with 12 habits I can carry forward. I have found that this is the “secret to my success” of actually accomplishing my New Year’s Resolutions. It’s easier to tackle something for 30 days than to tackle it all year long.
My goals go anywhere from something physical like working out for 10 minutes a day or doing 100 crunches a day to something related to eating, focusing on getting in my water each day or 7-9 servings fruits/veggies a day to something I shouldn’t do (like avoiding candy). I like my resolutions and goals to be specific so I can track them and to cover my overall well being ~ health, relationships and living life to the fullest.
That being said, I can say that 2013 was the first year in awhile that I didn’t achieve all the resolutions I planned on….So, this year, I am calling for a do-over! It’s back to the basics and checking my task off each day.
You will find that some of my resolutions this year are repeats from last year because….well, I didn’t finish them while others are repeats because I loved doing them!
MY 12 MONTH SERIES:
Jan – Get back to 100+ oz. water daily. Start small and GO BIG ~ Wk. 1 – 64+oz., Wk. 2 – 72+oz., Wk. 3 – 80+oz., Wk. 4 0 88+oz., Wk. 5 – 96+oz.
Feb – 25 pushups per day
Mar – Meatless March ~ Go Vegetarian for the entire month with a focus on Farm to Table!
Apr – 10,000 steps per day – even if it means walking while watching commercials to get them in!
May – Add a fruit and/or vegetable to every meal or snack ~ no exceptions.
Jun – Celebrate summer by getting fab abs and working up to 100 crunches/day
July – 31 days following The Simply Filling Technique
Aug – Strength training 3 days each work – legs, arms and CORE – 1x/wk. for each Cardio
Sept – Focus on cooking 1 new recipe a week & limit dining out to 2 times/week.
Oct – Track It Challenge ~ Write down every single Bite, Lick or Taste (BLT) ~ If I bite it, I write it!
Nov – Yoga Month ~ find balance each day with 30 days of Yoga or Meditation.
Dec – Daily Exercise even if it is just for 10 minutes. Get into the holiday spirit by exercising daily, counting everything, no BLT’s – plan and be successful this holiday season!
It’s hard to believe I’ve actually posted my resolutions to share with you all for 5 years now
- My 2010 New Year’s Resolutions
- My 2011 New Year’s Resolutions
- My 2012 New Year’s Resolutions
- My 2013 New Year’s Resolutions
- and now 2014!
I truly enjoy making monthly goals, but, even more, I LOVE the feeling of accomplishment I have each month when I reflect and realize what I accomplished. All those little successes add up!
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What is one goal or resolution that you will achieve in 2014?
Night all!
My first goal is to track, track, track.
So far I have decided I will not eat any sugar/desserts and I need to increase my cardio work outs.
I have decided not to keep talking weight loss/diet, etc in front of my husband and son. I will make the healthy meals. I will get my 10,000 steps a day. I will stop having dessert every day and treating my eating out meals as “last meals”.
I will be healthy and fit!
I love the monthly goal idea. Imma steal a few of yours. I do this with running and weight loss goals, but focusing on behaviors that support the two is such a great way to approach it. My goals this year are: 1) work my way up to running on a regular basis again with a half marathon scheduled in July. 2) Join WW (I did last week), go back to meetings (will this Sunday) and lose everything I gained while pregnant (close to 75lbs!!). I’m excited for the new year. Can’t wait to see you!!
I’m resolving to join Weight Watchers and stick with it past February! This is the year for change, both internally and externally. I just found your website and love it. Reading past posts and your enthusiasm has encouraged me. I look forward to hearing how you have reached your resolutions!
I’m going to start walking again this year and walk 5 miles/weekly (at least) this winter and spring. Since I’ve not exercised much at all this past year this is a big change for me. I just know I’m going to feel better! And while reviewing your goals, I can see I need to be drinking more water too… its easy to get away from that and consume calorie laden drinks (like cocoa and fancy coffee) during winter isnt it?