How’s your new year, new me going?
Have you already fallen off in the first week? Yeah, same. So have I.
For a start, I always set myself lofty goals. Ones such as; in 2026 I’m going to finally get to the gym. It’s only down the road from me. I can do it!
And then the snow hits on the Wednesday and the gym is downhill and I have to get my shoes on, and it’s slippery out there, and I don’t feel comfy in my new outfit and my towel is still not dry from last time. Suddenly it’s March and I realise that I stopped going a long time ago.
So, how do I set myself an attainable goal? This year, I’m trying new things, and I’m being gentle with myself while I try these new things.
For a start, my January and February are the months where I know I’m at my worst. The days are short, dark, damp and cold. I’m getting older and I’m starting to feel the chill in my joints.
The first two months of the year are for planning and testing.
Take the initial 8 weeks of the year as planning time, weeks where the weather may scupper any plans and the dark may put you off from attempting anything too strenuous. I’m currently working on the various ways I can start my mornings. So far, I have a list of what I would like to do in the morning.
To Do:
- Meditate
- Stretch/Yoga/Tai Chi/Pilates
- Breakfast – Something with fibre and protein – perhaps some miso soup
- Starting the morning with no phone/no checking the news before 11am/
I’ll add and change items on the list as I go.
Experiment and adjust where I feel I can make changes that ease the stress of a morning.
I’ve added a to do list into a simple notepad. something I can carry with me and add items to the list as and when I need to add them. This removes the stress on myself to remember items. I’m terrible for forgetting things. I’m not a person who can go into the supermarket with a list of 5 items in my head and be able to walk out with all 5 of those items. I’ll inevitably forget one item and I’ll remember when I return home and spot the missing item. Usually coffee for me.
My life is full of lists.
Because that’s where I fail the most. I forget or I don’t remember in time and then I fall into the guilt and shame spirals that are so easy to dive into. Birthdays are the worst. I will forget a birthday until the day of and then it’s far too late to send a card and a simple text feels a little redundant.
So there you go.
I could go on about SMART goals, or add a motivational quote here, however you know yourself the best. And if you don’t, well, you get the rest of your life to figure yourself out.
Calvin and Hobbs – Bill Watterson.
Good luck!
