It’s that time of the year where many reflect on the year that’s passed and decide to make a change. Usually, aspirations are set and we dive into the new year with enthusiasm and gusto, determined to make these aspirations a reality and make them stick (This time forever!)
Then, for whatever reason, we slowly lose sight of those aspirations; setback after setback and eventually we put it off – “maybe next year”. Sound familiar?
If this is you, it’s not because your aspirations weren’t important to you or you didn’t make them a priority. It’s more likely you did not have a structure and a plan for your goals. It is also vitally important to make sure your goals align with your “why”. Your “why” is the bigger picture, why you do what you do.
For your goals to stick and become a reality, it is important to clearly define them, be realistic with and implement them to the best of your ability. To implement successfully you need to make sure your goals fall in line with your core values.
Choose 1 – 5 core values you want for your life in 2024 and have a goal for each one and in order of priority. I’m going to share mine here;
• Health
• Family
• Excellence
• Happiness
Some of your core values may intersect and that’s fine. The goal here is to create a meaningful and tangible way to keep you accountable.
Once you have established your core values, you can follow this 5-step process:
• Goal: must have a time frame, be in positive tense and present tense
• Plan: how are you going to get to that goal
• Implement: This is where you put the plan into action
• Control Direction and throw off discouragement: This is where you continue to work through your plan even when things come between you and continued progress.
Maybe your goal for 2024 is to lose a couple of pounds of fat or unlock a new skill this year. This is an example of how this could look:
• Goal: “I will lose 12 lbs by 31 March 2024” This is 1lb per week for 12 weeks
• Plan: Focus on 80% of diet coming from whole, minimal processed foods, reduce alcohol intake, increase protein, water intake and improve sleep.
• Implement: Plan a weekly menu and buy groceries around this menu. When going out for meals looking at the menu ahead of time and making better choices.
• Control Direction and throw off discouragement: Deciding ahead of time what social occasions will be chosen for any drinking or over eating, being selective as to the special occasions and limiting damage on the others. Making as many meals ahead of time and taking them to work etc.
This is of course a very simply view of what your potential plan could look like – you can go into as much or as little detail as you feel comfortable. There are also so many variables, the importance is to control the variables in YOUR control. You can’t control if you have be away for work but you can control the foods you buy when away from home.
A goal is only an idea with a plan and a plan is only a plan without implementation. YOU are in control and YOU are responsible for your goals and achieving, the good news is you do not need to do it alone, you are more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down and more than 10x likely to achieve them if you tell someone. Get an accountability buddy and go and crush 2024.
Rich Mc Wade CCFT
IG: @richiemcwade
Email: rich@crossfitteesside.com