Happy New Year! I am sure you are reading this from the treadmill in your quest to lose 10 lbs, the same New year’s resolution you strived to attain last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.
Why hasn’t your resolution paid off? Why is it so hard to move those numbers on the scale, or save that money? Why don’t our sweeping proclamations last longer than February? Because we burn ourselves out.
We need to set small, attainable, goals, or “To-do’s” throughout the year that eventually lead us to our sweeping proclamations, without having to focus on them 24/7. Once I tried this transition in 2016 I was so rewarded, and surprised to actually reach my goals, that were ultimately past years resolutions.
The trick is all in writing the list.
If your resolution is to lose 10 lbs in 2018, this is what your “To-Do” list should look like:
Eat a healthy, balanced diet (80/20)
Strength train 3 days a week
Cardio 2 days a week
Try a new workout every month
Pack a homemade lunch to work
Walk 10,000 steps per day
Reduce Alcohol consumption to 4 drinks per week
If you keep up with these small goals, you are likely to lose more than your 10 lb resolution.
Here is another list example if your resolution is to save 20K in 2018:
Limit eating out to special occasions
Brew your own coffee to avoid coffee shops
Save your coin change and roll it
Deposit a portion of your paycheck into a savings account instantly
Cancel any memberships you do not use
Enroll your credit or debit card in cash back rewards programs
Create a budget, and stick to it
Find your side hustle, like a talent you can charge for (babysitting, baking, crafting, woodwork)
Sell unwanted items on Let Go, Craigslist, FB, Etc.
You can create a list based on goals you know you can stick to, these are just list I have used in the past that I know work for me.
Keep the list on your phone, email, printed out on your fridge, wherever you need it to be to see it everyday. You will feel so satisfied when you can check off everything on your “To-Do” list, and come to realize you actually met your New Year’s resolution!
Cover Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
