WHY YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION MATTERS

So we’re neck deep in the “don’t wait til New Year’s to start!” & “New Year's Resolutions fail!” season. Which to me feels like a great time to say, if you’re planning to start your journey towards better health and fitness on January 1st, I am proud of you. 

I am proud that you are making the choice to get started, something many people do not ever do. If this is your plan, I wanted to share some tips to not only help you get ready to begin, but also help you build sustainable success every day in 2022!

Before January 1st…

Define Your Why

Take an hour to yourself and ask yourself why you want to make these changes. Be specific. Write it down. Dig deeper than “Lose weight” or “Look better,” ask yourself why those things are important, what is behind them. This will be your driving force! 

Set Short Term and Long Term Goals

Don’t just set long term goals. Defining what your “finish line” looks like is great, but what do you need to accomplish to get there? What do you want to accomplish on January 1st? By January 31st? March 31st? Think about the shorter time periods too. Stacking up shorter term wins helps build motivation for the long haul. 

Build a Plan of Action

Now you know what your goals are, take each one and build a list of specific actions and habits needed to ensure your success. Craft a daily routine that you follow. It is that consistency in action that breeds success. What will be your non-negotiables you will do daily. A great starting place is looking at what your nutrition plan will be, what your intentional activity (aka exercise!) plan is, and how you will build in a mindset piece. Here’s a blog I wrote to help on creating that plan!

Find Accountability

Accountability is an incredibly powerful part of every successful weight loss journey I have encountered. It can be an in person friend or family member, an online friend or support group, or a coach. Accountability partners will hold you accountable to your goals and your action plans, and can often be a great resource for you to stay focused when times are rough or challenging. 

After January 1st…

Use a Journal to Track Progress

A journal is a great tool to help you track your progress towards your goals. It is a place for you to define the metrics you want to track and your time frames. It is also a place for you practice daily mindfulness on how you’re feeling, the successes you find each day, the items you feel still need work, and also a place to reflect on gratitude. 

Assess Your Goals Regularly

You should be looking at your goals on a regular basis to determine if they are the right ones for you to be pursuing. I recommend a weekly or bi-weekly self-check in where you can decide if your goals are moving you in the right direction, if any changes are needed or if it is time to define anything new. 

Be Willing to Adapt Your Plan

The plan you follow on day one might not be the plan you need on day 30, day 100 and onward. Specifically here I am referring to the way of eating or exercise plans you have made. Sustainability matters so if you are starting to feel like your plan does not provide you with that, don’t quit. Don’t blame a specific diet. Decide that your why is still important and adapt. Try something new. It’s ok to try new things. I will encourage you to give a plan a month at least before you determine if it is not the right one for you.

Prove the Haters Wrong!

Ok this one might sound silly but hey, if there’s a crowd of people out there saying that getting started January 1st is a recipe for disaster, why not prove them wrong? Stoke the fire of your resilience and consistency with those words. And honestly, we often realize the loudest voice of opposition comes from inside of ourselves. Don’t be afraid to say, “Not this time!” Gather the tools you need and put them into action. Why not make this YOUR year?!

So there you have my advice for the start of your New Year! I hope it will provoke some thoughts for your plans. If you’re looking for more help don’t be afraid to reach out to one of our coaches here or check out the Keto Road Crew free accountability group on Facebook that Coach Jon & I have launched!