Let’s Share
Happy New Year! What do you have planned for 2025? Have you thought about a New Year resolution? Any specific targets or wants for the year? Everyone has the intention, but do New Year resolutions cause more harm than good? They should encourage you to live your best life, be positive and add to your lifestyle. They should not focus on changing you as a person, limit or restrict you, which can lead to relapse.
It is important to set goals in a healthy way, to make it worthwhile.
The first step is SMART. We have spoken about SMART goals in previous newsletters, but as a reminder:
- S is for Specific
You need to be clear with what you want to achieve e.g. I want to read a book each month
- M is for measurable
There is a need for a measure to ensure you know when it has been achieved e.g. One book every 30 days.
- A is for achievable
What do you need to make it achievable. E.g., I have access to books and will read at least 10 pages per night.
- R is for realistic
How can you make it realistic e.g. If I plan in reading time at bedtime once the kids are asleep, 10 pages seems doable.
- T is for timed
When do you want to complete it by e.g., Twelve books read by 31st December 2025
Did you know people who write down their goals are 33% more successful at achieving their targets than people who set the intention internally. Make this your step two.
Since you have looked further down the line, you can now consider small targets that lead you to the bigger goal. This can boost your efficiency and success rate. It improves your belief in yourself and what you can achieve, which leads you to take further action. Start with a small goal, what can you do today, or this week, rather than the one big resolution for the year. Baby steps, for stage three. You may then want to return to step two, to write them down.
And lastly, don’t keep it all a secret! Tell family, tell friends. Maybe find someone to share this with who has a similar resolution. These people will be there for you, support you and encourage positive steps to improve your health. Support is an important factor. Select friends with a similar outlook. 38% of adults stay on track throughout January, with 80% failing by the end of February. Your support will keep you accountable.
With this in mind, we have asked the team to share some of their targets for 2025. We have been telling each other, making a positive step to keep up the intention. We have included some in the ‘Let’s talk about’ segment this month. Please do ask the team how they are getting on and share your goals too. Let’s share to help keep each other on track. Let’s be the 20% who succeed.
Remember a habit can take 66 days (on average) to embed. Give yourself time to achieve.
Let’s Talk About…
Our team and their intentions. Let’s talk about Us this month to learn more about the walk leader team, to discuss when we see each other, and to support one another in achieving a positive, healthy lifestyle. We have selected just a few.
“Denise wants to learn the piano. She wants to pass her grade 1 exam by December, with access to a piano and YouTube.”
“Brenda would like to improve her strength with classes and online weight sessions. She would also like to run a 5k in one go again.”
“Louise wants to attend online weight classes at least twice a month and increase her weights by double in 6 months.”
“Pauline is going to improve her flexibility in 2025 by attending yoga and Pilates classes.”
“Barbara is planning on walking part of the Camino de Santiago this year.”
Good luck to everyone in the team who has set an intention. We have shared them on WhatsApp, so the goal is now written! Steps one, two, three and four considered. Here’s to 2025.