Under Pressure

Happy New Year!

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Not the most ideal source, but what can you do.......
 

I hope you saw in 2013 on a happy note; now doubt you would have made significant if not intensive “resolutions”…..

 

I actually don’t like to use the word “resolutions”. I hear resolutions and almost immediately it creates pressure and finality, like if you are successful with your resolution, everything will be fine or if you don’t resolve to complete a task set within a specific time then you have automatically failed. The ironic thing is that apparently most people give up on their resolutions within 6 weeks of making them! That’s a lot of wasted gym memberships……

 

For me, the Christmas Period has highlighted a couple of issues. I’ve had one or two people ask me about my cooking skills given that my mother is an excellent cook (seriously, she is. And not just because she’s my mother). There have also been husband references and resolutions on my behalf i.e. may you find a husband this year *annoyed sigh*. On top of that I have been evaluating my career and finances and the fact that I’m getting a year older and that a lot of my friends are either married, engaged or in LTRs with or without kids, while I’m still single…………*deep breath*! Soon I found myself making a mental checklist of what dangerously looked like “do or die” targets for 2013

 

It’s a bit too easy to set yourself too many and sometimes unrealistic targets and when you don’t reach those targets, you feel like a failure.

 

Goals rather than Resolutions

 

To try to ease this pressure, for the last few years I have used the term “goals”; it sounds a lot friendlier and there is no sense of finality. It’s a work in progress and is flexible. I have actually found that setting my goals a month or two before the New Year is actually better for me – such successful examples are the decision to go on a long haul holiday to the Dominican Republic and the decision to get fit (rather than the same old join the gym and lose weight)

 

I have quite a few goals that I want to achieve and/or work towards over this year and the following 2 years, and they touch a variety of areas of my life – personal, love, financial, career etc. It actually feels easier to focus and work towards my goals.

 

If you’re like me and want to be more goal orientated, here are a few tips to help you achieve your goals:

 

Set your goals – and be realistic. There is no point in setting 25 goals when in reality you can only achieve maybe 3 or 4. Don’t set yourself stupid/unrealistic time frames to achieve those goals. They do not have to be major and complicated; keep them simple e.g. save for a holiday/car, open a savings account, get in the dating game etc

 

Write down your goals – and place them in a prominent place where you will see it/them every day. Depending on your goals, this may be in a public or personal place. I usually place my written goals on the wall next to my bed, that way I see it when I go to be or wake up.

 

Get support – if your goals require a bit of support, then don’t be afraid to get help from family, friends and work colleagues (as long as they don’t take the piss!). I found that in getting fit, training solo at the gym was not for me; joining Nike Training Club and participating in group training was a much better fit for, especially as the trainers and the girls are fun and supportive

 

It’s ok to have a set back – because what would life be if it was just plain sailing(!) If you find it difficult to achieve that goal (easy to have a cheeky smoke, or in my case a very occasional double cheese burger) don’t be hard on yourself.

 

Be ready to change – there is no point in setting any goals if you are not in the right frame of mind. If New Year’s Eve/Day is not the day to set your goals, that’s ok. Goals can be set at any time, you have to be ready and willing to work towards achieving those goals.

 

I hope these have been helpful!

Do you have any other tips to share? What goals do you have in mind for 2013?

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