start those resolutions, now!

You call them resolutions, I call them my “New Year’s Intentions.”

Potâto, potāto. Let’s call the whole thing off–wait no, don’t do that. I want to keep with my intentions, and I know you want to keep with your resolutions this year too. Unfortunately, the majority of people drop off from their new year resolutions, even as soon as January.

I say, let’s be in the rough 8% that carry out their intentions/resolutions/goals this year. We can do it! And here’s how, start NOW!

That’s right, now. In December. Why? Because the sooner you make change a habit and a part of your life style, the better chance your intention has of sticking for the long haul.

Also, think about this: if you start now, during the holidays, a.k.a. the toughest time to stick to healthy eating habits, fitness routines, de-stressing, self-loving, etc. Whatever it may be, if you can establish this new habit into your life now, come January (and all of 2018) it will be a breeze to continue on your new path.

You can do this. And I can too. I’ve already begun slipping into some of my 2018 intentions like…

doing core work every morning
running weekly
increasing my running endurance
eating more mindfully

There are more to come. I have just been focusing on those and so far, so good!

Stuck on what to add into your new year to come/now?

Here is a list of things to help set some goals/intentions/resolutions:

Start big picture. What do you want to accomplish long term?
- Example: Being able to run longer distances again.
Set some number to that goal, something you can measure.
- Example: Being able to run 6 miles.
Now scale that down. Ask, how can you achieve said goal?
- Example: I can build up my endurance by running smaller distances regularly and build over time.
Set some number to that goal.
- Example: Run 1 mile every week.

Boom. You have a goal formula.

My intention is to be able to run longer distances again without feeling like dying. Why? I used to really enjoy it. I felt free and it was good meditation for me. What would be a reasonable distance to run that I think I could accomplish? 6 miles. It’s longer than I can run right now, and I know that 6 miles was always a good distance for me. How will I get there? Run once a week. Right now it doesn’t matter how far. Just run.

My goal is a SMART goal. Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-bound.

Now start getting after your resolutions!