Achieving your New Year’s resolution.
Okay, we are now well enough into the year that many people have given up, or forgotten, their New Year’s resolutions. I have done the same thing in the past, but this year is different and I would like to share a few tips. This year I have decided it’s time to get back into shape. What a Naturopathic Doctor strayed from the health path?! Admittedly yes. I am human, just like the rest of you. I have always been very active, but becoming a mom and working a full time job can really dig into your time and I struggled with how to balance it all. So my New Year’s resolution was to get back into shape and I am still on track.
The difference this year for me has been goal setting. The first thing was to set some reasonable goals. No matter what you are trying to achieve, setting reasonable goals are a way to make them happen. I decided I would run a 10k race. It is a distance that requires some training for me, but not so much that I am going to feel stressed. Part of goal setting is to have long and short term goals. The long term goal can be the end result you are trying to achieve; in my case it is running a 10km in under 60 min. The short term goals are my weekly achievements like getting out running three times a week. I also keep a dream goal in the back of my head. This is beyond the long term, but still in the realm of reality. A good reason to have a dream goal is to keep you motivated, challenged and moving forward once your short and long term goals have been achieved. My dream goal is to run a 10 km in 42 minutes. Some of you may not think this is much of a challenge, but goals are relative to the individual.
The second thing I did this year was to sign up for a 10km running clinic. Sure I have been running for years and don’t really need the training component, but I do need the accountability, commitment and support. Generally, when we pay to be a part of a program we feel more committed. If you need the support be sure to seek it out by letting family and friends know your goals so they can encourage and support you. You can also find a buddy who has a similar goal and you can work together to achieve your goals.
The third component, which I am still working on, is to be gentle and encouraging with myself. I have not exercised much over the last two years, so I can’t expect to be in the physical condition I was in before I had my son. Whatever you are trying to achieve, it is important to encourage yourself, not put yourself down. Any step that is taken to achieve your goal should be seen as a positive. It is also important to be gentle with yourself. What I mean by this is that if you have a bad day or week and don’t stick to your plan, it is okay. Just get back on the program as soon as you are past whatever is limiting you. We all have to have flexibility in any program we take on. Illness and other unforeseeable events happen and we have to make room for them without creating more stress in our lives. Be careful though not to fall into the trap of making excuses for not getting back on track.
I’m going to be running in this year’s Vancouver Sun run and I am hoping to complete it in 55 minutes. There I have made it public so I have even more reason to stay on track. I will let you know how it goes.