Many of us have New Years Resolutions, but not many of us keep them. You have a shot at accomplishing ALL of them if you follow this exercise sometime this week, before you get back to the grind again.

Make a date with yourself. Sometimes it feels like everyone wants a piece of you! That’s why it is so important to carve out some you-time. Go to a comfy café, curl up on your couch, or drive to a beautiful place. The point is to get away from the distractions, and declare that this is “me time.”

Reflect and write. Whether you keep a journal or use an old notebook, find your pen and begin to put your thoughts on paper. Start by reflecting on the past year. Think it through, month by month, noting all of the major events and their impact. Once you’ve reflected on your past year, take a few moments to focus on how you feel now. Write down your hopes, regrets, joys, and any emotions you feel. And then, the best part: begin to dream about your future. What wonderful things lie ahead of you? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to accomplish fitness-wise?  What will your “fitness” look like in 2022? How does your health and fitness relate to your other goals?  Write down your main plans and your goals for 2022 for each aspect of your life: fitness, family, social, work, spiritual.  No need to make promises to yourself. Just be honest about what you want. By setting your intention, you are much more likely to make your dreams a reality.

Ask yourself “why?” It’s imperative when setting any goal, that you ask yourself, “why is this goal so important to me?” Then ask yourself why to that answer and keep going until you can’t answer anymore. That is how you find out what is really driving you. This will make it easier to keep that goal. For example, “I need to go to the gym every day.” Why?  “So I can lose weight.” Why? “So I can wear skinny jeans again.” Why? “Because then I feel good about myself and that confidence carries over into other aspects of my life.”

Make subgoals that are specific and measurable to your main goal or resolution. For example, if your goal or resolution is to lose 20 lbs. What will you need to do to accomplish this goal? Perhaps it would be to dedicate 30-60 minutes of workout time 6 days a week for 3 months. To wear a heart monitor when you exercise. To start using a food journal perhaps 6 out of 7 days per week. To limit Starbucks or alcohol to 1 day per week. Whatever your goal is, set weekly subgoals and check in at the end of each week to see how you did. If you do this each week, you will eventually get to your goal.

It’s a pleasure to share my thoughts with you, and I hope you will take the time to reflect on you and your wonderful life. I’m wishing you joy and inspiration in the new year and always.

Nicolette Kousoulas