And There Went January
Well, we got that out of the way, didn't we? January. The first month of the year. The coldest month of the year. That month of great expectations as we make big-time New Year's resolutions that generally don't even survive the first month.
I don't know about you, but today I am having a hard time remembering the goals I wrote about just a few short weeks ago. And so... this post. A reminder. A moment to regroup and refocus.
About those goals I can't even remember anymore: this is why we write these things down. So that they can't just disappear into thin air. So that we can nudge ourselves a bit more toward accountability. I went back to that eager and enthusiastic New Year's post, and here is what I put out there for the year:
If I am going to achieve those goals this year, I am going to have to do this a lot, this looking back, reminding myself, repeating these words, refocusing, and restarting as many times as it takes.
Like most people who make New Year's resolutions, I started off strong. I was Motivated with a capital M for the first two weeks of the year. I worked out 5-6 days each week. Then I started slipping in week three... and week four... and, well, yes, in week five. But here in week six (rather than in week 46), I am "recalculating."
At 1/12th of the way through the year, I've accomplished this at least:
I don't know about you, but today I am having a hard time remembering the goals I wrote about just a few short weeks ago. And so... this post. A reminder. A moment to regroup and refocus.
About those goals I can't even remember anymore: this is why we write these things down. So that they can't just disappear into thin air. So that we can nudge ourselves a bit more toward accountability. I went back to that eager and enthusiastic New Year's post, and here is what I put out there for the year:
If I am going to achieve those goals this year, I am going to have to do this a lot, this looking back, reminding myself, repeating these words, refocusing, and restarting as many times as it takes.
Like most people who make New Year's resolutions, I started off strong. I was Motivated with a capital M for the first two weeks of the year. I worked out 5-6 days each week. Then I started slipping in week three... and week four... and, well, yes, in week five. But here in week six (rather than in week 46), I am "recalculating."
At 1/12th of the way through the year, I've accomplished this at least:
- Biked 80 miles
- Ran 44 miles
- Hit 70,000 steps 1 of 5 weeks
I got a bit of yoga, swimming, and weight training in and am on schedule to complete that indoor ironman triathlon I signed up for. It's been a slower start than I had planned, but it's early yet. I've reminded myself of my fitness goals and the reasons I wanted to achieve them, and I am ready to head into February with that same level of motivation I started January with.
It's okay to veer off the path. The trick to improvement in consistency and motivation is to catch yourself sooner and sooner and get started right back down that path. You have to just keep working on that whole creating new habits thing. It's not easy. But the less time it takes to refocus and redirect, the better... the more you progress.
I've assessed January, and I am reminded of those things I wanted just a few weeks ago. I still want them. I now will start February with those "simple" goals (hah!) right back in the forefront.
Wishing you all the best in your own fitness goals. Happy February!
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