Resolutions, Resolutions, Resolutions

What's everyone doing for the holiday? I'm off to Malaysia next week for a much-needed break. This year has been such a busy year for me. Alhamdulilah, it's been good though. 

It's that time of year when we reflect on the year behind us, was it a prosperous year, did we achieve our goals set out for the year, do we even remember our goals? (honestly I don't remember). This year however, I plan to set goals and actually remember them, maybe even try to see them through. The best way to achieve something is by constantly being reminded of what it is we want to achieve and in what time-frame. I read somewhere that a goal without a time-limit is just a dream, it's so true because we constantly find ourselves saying "I'll do it tomorrow" or "I have no time today" but if it's something we truly want then why not make the time for it. 

I have a fitness goal that I've been 'trying' to achieve for about three years now, it just wasn't happening, I even stuck a picture of the body I want in my cupboard and every day I'd look at it and say I'm going to do it but saying something and doing something is really two different things. Two months ago, I decided to take control of my mind and actually work towards my goal. I am no where near the anticipated result but I can see a difference. Its not easy, I often forget about the hot body I so desperately want (especially at Wakaberry) but I forgive myself and try again the next day. Punishing ourselves doesn't help either, we're human, we're bound to fall but we have to dust ourselves off and try again. 

I found a few helpful tips on goal setting:

5 Facts About Goal Setting

These practical tips on goal setting can help make it easier to set and reach goals:

1. Specific, realistic goals work best. When it comes to making a change, the people who succeed are those who set realistic, specific goals. "I'm going to recycle all my plastic bottles, soda cans, and magazines" is a much more doable goal than "I'm going to do more for the environment." And that makes it easier to stick with.
2. It takes time for a change to become an established habit. It will probably take a couple of months before any changes — like getting up half an hour early to exercise — become a routine part of your life. That's because your brain needs time to get used to the idea that this new thing you're doing is part of your regular routine.
3. Repeating a goal makes it stick. Say your goal out loud each morning to remind yourself of what you want and what you're working for. (Writing it down works too.) Every time you remind yourself of your goal, you're training your brain to make it happen.
4. Pleasing other people doesn't work. The key to making any change is to find the desire within yourself — you have to do it because you want it, not because a girlfriend, boyfriend, coach, parent, or someone else wants you to. It will be harder to stay on track and motivated if you're doing something out of obligation to another person.
5. Roadblocks don't mean failure. Slip-ups are actually part of the learning process as you retrain your brain into a new way of thinking. It may take a few tries to reach a goal. But that's OK — it's normal to mess up or give up a few times when trying to make a change. So remember that everyone slips up and don't beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back on track.

I hope these tips help. Happy Goal - setting!