Revisiting Your Goals
/If your New Year’s resolutions are long forgotten, here’s how you can check-in and get back on track. July is a great month to re-evaluate and make mid-year resolutions to end the year well.
You remember January? That was the month that you were pressured into agreeing to eat only vegetables for six weeks. My guess is that you didn’t make it to dinner on January 2nd before grabbing a burger or piece of chicken.
That’s why I believe making mid-year resolutions can be even more powerful than making New Year’s resolutions.
I get the allure of a shiny new year full of possibility at the ready. The world is your oyster and the sins of your past seem to vanish, at least until you break your resolutions, hours later.
Now that it’s several months into the year, do you even remember your New Year’s Resolutions? Or do you simply cringe at how quickly you folded?
Don’t be discouraged! There’s a lot of power in the mid-year resolution. You’re older, wiser, and are ready to learn from the past and give it another go.
Here’s how to re-evaluate your New Year’s resolutions and nail your mid-year resolutions.
1. Use hindsight to Reframe
The 27 resolutions you created January 1 while a bit hungover, or maybe still drunk (?!), might have been a bit ambitious. There was peer pressure involved, bitterness from the previous year, and an overall malaise at the cold temps circulating in your house. You weren’t in the best frame of mind.
Hopefully, you tried putting a few resolutions into play in January. What did you learn?
Did you learn that you actually don’t have a green thumb and won’t be growing your own herbs and vegetables? Now could be a good time to look at taking a class or joining a community garden where you’re surrounded by experts who will share their knowledge. Or perhaps you can simply have a deeper appreciation for the beautiful greens at the grocery store and farmer’s market, and move on to your next resolution.
It’s ok to reframe your resolutions to make them work for you. These are your goals after all, so they should serve you and your needs.
2. Focus
Often times we bite off more than we can chew when it comes to making resolutions. We want to lose 100 pounds, start a new job, buy a bigger house, and get into a new relationship, all during the month of January. Those are noble goals, but trying to tackle them all at once is a tall order, and potentially a losing proposition.
Start with one goal at a time. You want to set yourself up for success and let’s be honest, there are only so many hours in the day. Focus on your most pressing desire first. Once you get in a good place with your initial resolution, then look at taking on another resolution.
You may also find that your confidence will grow as you accomplish more. Resolutions three and four might come a little easier after having a little experience and a few wins. And often when you change one piece of your life, the rest starts to shift a bit more effortlessly as well.
3. Break Your Resolutions into Smaller Pieces
You may want to run a marathon someday but if you’re new to exercise, this might be a big challenge. Instead of throwing in the towel, break your resolution into smaller pieces.
The first step could be just taking a 20-minute walk three times a week. Once you’re comfortable with that, escalate the time and distance until you’re signing up for your first 5k run.
Thinking big can be very inspiring, but it can also be equally overwhelming because your goal can seem too massive to achieve. If you look at taking small but steady steps, not only will it feel good to accomplish various milestones, but it can also get you closer to your goal in less time.
4. Play to Your Strengths and Adapt
Was one of your resolutions to eat healthier this year? Then you tried cooking a few things and learned just how close your local fire department is? If you don’t have a knack for cooking then perhaps you want to look at inexpensive meal delivery services so you can stay healthy while focusing on your other strengths.
If one of your resolutions was to play Wimbledon, but you have two left feet and no eye-hand coordination, then maybe you want to refocus your intention. That doesn’t mean you can’t play tennis. Hire a good coach, take group lessons, and have fun. Simply enjoying something for the sake of having a good time can be rewarding in its own right.
You can’t be good at everything, so know your strengths. Seek help in the areas you need support and be ok with dropping or shifting goals that no longer serve you.
5. Persevere
Starting something new is hard. It takes time, work, and dedication. You’re going to hit some obstacles, but you have to want it enough to keep going.
Trust the process. If you’re following the steps above, but still not seeing progress, then it could be helpful to hire a trained coach. A coach can see your blind spots and hold you accountable for your goals and help move your forward.
I currently have a few spots available for one-on-one health coaching. I work with women on their diet and thinking so they can have more energy, sleep better, and feel happier and more relaxed. If you need help nourishing your mind and body, reach out, and let me help you guide you to a great rest of the year and many more to come.
