Resolutions vs. Goals

Happy 2013 everyone!

I hope everyone had a fantastic New Years Eve and Day. 2012 was a great year, but I have an even better feeling about 2013!

January is typically the time of the year when we are usually prompted to reflect on out current lives, and review what we would like to change, alter or achieve in the new year.

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Ever heard the phrase “New Year, New You” ?

Most people have great intentions which lead them to set X amount of “New Years Resolutions”.  The most common resolutions are to “lose weight”, “eat healthy” or “to exercise”.

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The problem with these resolutions is that they are not specific, definable or measurable.  In my opinion, resolutions do not have a clear strategy or a plan and they lack accountability. In other words–they don’t work!

Instead of setting New Years resolutions this year, focus on setting goals instead.

Goals are specific, measurable and time sensitive. Goals are more detailed and provide you with a road map of where you are headed/where you want to go.

Rather than setting a resolution to “lose weight” or to “exercise”, set a goal to ”lose 10lbs in the next 2 months”, or to “run my first 5k on April 1, 2013″.

Those are two measurable and attainable goals. See the difference?

I consider myself a very goal-oriented person. I’ve mentioned that time and time again on the blog, so it shouldn’t come to a surprise (unless you are a new reader, welcome!) I created a “Life’s To Do List” a while back which contains all of my life goals, some of which I hope to complete this year!

2013 Goals

• To run at least 7 races, including a half-marathon (Mary 2013) and a full marathon (between Sept-Nov2013) :-o.
• To set a new PR on my half-marathon time.
• To further my education by going back to school.
• To improve the quality of photos on the blog by investing in a better camera and learning more about photography.
• To continue to make the blog more informational, easy to navigate and fun! I want to host more giveaways and post more often.

Also, it’s perfectly fine to set resolutions if that is what works for you. Everyone is different, and what works for one person may not work for another.

For the record–I do still set a few resolutions per new year. They are typically general ones that are cute and funny, but still have some sort of meaning.

This year my resolutions are to sit and stand up straight, to get to bed earlier and to smile more often

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Are you more of a resolution or goal person?

What are some of your 2013 resolutions or goals?

Quote of the Day

“Out with the old, in with the new”