As we move from Christmas to New Year, the general chit chat has moved on from “what are you doing over Christmas” to “what are your New Year’s Resolutions?” which can sometimes put us in a position where we make spur-of-the-moment decisions along the lines of “I’m going to run the Bath-Half” or “I’m going to only eat carbohydrates at weekends” or “I’m going to have a dry January”.  In theory there is nothing wrong with any of those but I really encourage everyone (including my optimistic self!) to use New Year Resolutions as a useful tool not a throw away opportunity.  So,

• Make it relevant to YOUR life, not the life your friend is talking about or your partner feels you should strive for or the one you read about on facebook
• Break it down. By all means, set yourself a challenge – but then break it down into small, accessible steps and plan how you are going to pace yourself throughout the year
• Be realistic.  Can you really find time to run 4 times a week before work when it’s still dark until 7.30am?
• Bring in support.  If you really want to achieve something – increased exercise, weight loss, starting a new business, tell people about it.  Ask for help – and accept help!  We don’t have to achieve our goals on our own.
• Is it worth it?  If not, why waste time on it?  If it is, then make it a priority which may mean shoving something else to the side for a while.  There are only 24 hours in each day and if we want to fit in something new, something old may have to make room.
• How will you know when you have achieved your goal?  Set a target (but realistic, broken down if necessary – lots of small targets are better than one huge, far away mountain top.)

I hope that helps bring a little focus and planning to your New Year’s Resolutions and Happy, Happy New Year and 2019 to all my clients and supporters!