It’s 6 weeks into the new year already. Can you believe it? This marks a critical moment to reflect on your journey so far, take notes on what you accomplished, and refocus your energies on the ultimate goals you set out to achieve.
When Life Happens
At this point in the journey, the majority of us are feeling the weight of our daily responsibilities, paired with the chaos of life and possibly the comfort of old habits creeping back in. However, it’s crucial to remind yourself that you didn’t come this far to only come this far, right? Hope is not lost-yet. Your aspirations are still within reach you just need to dig deep, regroup, and put a few strategies in place to keep your goals at the forefront of your mind.
Take a moment to reflect and acknowledge how far you’ve come. Celebrate the small victories you won in the last 6 weeks. The incremental progress of learning to show up every day, the moments you pushed beyond your comfort zone, the moments you rolled out of bed to get that run in or to give yourself time to eat a healthy breakfast are all worthy of praise and recognition. So, you haven’t reached your ultimate goal yet, so what. Recognizing these accomplishments not only boosts morale but also reaffirms your commitment to the journey as a whole. You aren’t done yet!
During reflection, recognize and acknowledge your challenges as well. Perhaps some areas need more attention or require adjustments. This is not a moment for self-criticism but instead a chance to reassess and realign your strategies so you can be more successful.
In the midst of your hectic daily lives, it’s easy for goals to slip into the background and allow old habits to re-emerge. To deter this, consider the following tips to keep your end goals in focus:
Visual Reminders
- Create a vision board and keep it somewhere you see it often.
- Write mantras you want to live by on sticky notes and place them in visible areas to serve as reminders of what you are working towards.
- Set reminders on your phone to help you remember what steps you need to take such as drink more water, remember to eat a healthy breakfast, or remember to hit the gym after work tonight, etc.
Regular Check-ins
- Schedule weekly or bi-weekly check-ins with yourself to assess your progress.
- Identify challenges and adjust your course of action as needed.
Prioritize and Plan
- Break down big goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
- Schedule them into your daily routine by blocking off time in your planner like you would for a meeting.
- Set priorities for each day of the week so you know exactly what needs to be done each and every day.
Accountability Partners
- Share your goals with a trusted friend, family member, or mentor who can provide support, encouragement, and hold you accountable.
- Get an accountability buddy with similar goals to cheer you on and hold each other accountable. You are more likely to show up for your workouts if you know someone else is counting on you.
- Hire a trainer or dietician to help guide you through difficult health goals and keep you on track as your body changes and adapts.
Mindfulness and Reflection
Incorporate mindfulness practices into your day will help you remain present, and goal focused. Some things you may consider incorporating are:
- Journaling about progress and setbacks.
- Deep breathing to center your thoughts and ground yourself.
- Take time to reflect and express gratitude for the steps you’ve accomplished so far.
As we collectively approach the six-week mark of the new year, let’s use this moment to propel ourselves forward. By acknowledging what we have accomplished so far, re-evaluating our direction, and implementing strategies to renew our focus, we can navigate the chaos of life with new purpose. Remember, every step forward, no matter how small, brings us closer to the realization of our dreams. Keep going!
Need more inspiration? Check out my blog about accurate self-monitoring and how it can be a tool for positive behavior change here.
Need some customize help along the way? Join my 30 Day Thriving Through 2024 Challenge here or better yet, sign up for 1-on-1 training sessions with yours truly here for individual sessions or save with a block of 10 here.
Wishing you much love, health, and happiness,
Christine
