Making a Resolution

I used to think that making a New Years Resolution was stupid. I was bad at keeping them, I saw other people being bad at keeping them, and everyone seemed to make them because they thought they were supposed to. My main objection was that it felt like glorified procrastination. “I'm going to quit smoking, but not until the arbitrarily selected date.” Why not get started right away? In many cases, a resolution feels like an insincere attempt to change something we sincerely want to change.

So if, like me, you are looking to make some changes without “Making a Resolution,” here are some tips. You'll likely notice some familiar themes if you're a regular reader of mine, and further reading can be found by scrolling through the posts at www.realtrainers.ca/blog. It also bears mentioning that while this is a fitness blog and I use examples that reflect that, the ideas can be applied to any sort of resolution or life change.

Set Real Goals

When we ask someone if they have any resolutions for the coming year, we're really asking if they have any goals. Most people have no issue with this step; it's easy to say we have a goal, but the problem lies in how we make it. “I'm gonna get into shape this year” is a great place to start, but it needs to be followed by specifics. Make decisions about what “getting into shape” means to you, and then break it up into short-term and long-term chunks. If the goal is losing weight, set targets for yourself throughout the year (10lbs by this date, 20lbs by this one, etc). Make the goals reasonable, make them specific, and write them down. If you're having difficulty deciding what a reasonable health & fitness goal looks like, a doctor, nutritionist, or personal trainer will be able to help.

Make a Plan

A goal is just an idea until you take steps to make it happen. Even with a well conceived, specific goal in mind, it can be hard to bridge the gap between wanting to achieve something and actually achieving it. You may find it helpful to identify barriers to success and then find solutions to them. If you don't have proper footwear, head out to a Boxing Day sale and grab some! If you aren't sure if your doctor will clear you to start an exercise program, make an appointment to talk to them about it. If you aren't sure about having the time, sit down with your schedule and actually see what you're working with. Making a plan turns “I should be in shape” into “I'm going to lose 15lbs by March.. I'll be working out Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, and I'll make a list of gyms in my area to check out to see if one works for me. I'll make an appointment with my doctor to discuss my diet and any restrictions to exercise, and I'll contact Real Trainers to set up a consultation and see how they can help.”

Get Started

A plan is just a plan until you put it into action! Make those phone calls and spend a few minutes looking up gyms or community centres nearby. Changes to your diet can be put into place immediately, and there's no law against working out before Jan 1st. If it sounds like I'm making this step sound simple, that's because it is. Getting started may not be that easy, but it is that simple. You have your plan, now get at it!

Don't make a Resolution

The words we use carry a lot of weight, and sometimes they carry a lot of baggage as well. It may be that when you use the word “resolution” you mean that you're going to tell people about it when they ask, sorta work towards it for a month or two, and then give up. If that's the case, throw out the word. You are making a commitment, not a resolution. You are making a commitment to yourself that you will work through the plan you've made in order to achieve the goals you've set.

The start of a new year is as good a reason as any to make positive changes in your life, even if the numbers on the calendar don't have any inherent meaning. If you are going to make a resolution, it is possible to make one that works for you, and one that you can be proud of long after everyone else has abandoned theirs; all it takes is a little more effort than we usually make.