Don't go on a diet in 2020. Here's why.
As a personal trainer and wellness coach, I listen to a lot of goal setting. Every single goal that is set is a new exciting adventure. Over the years, I have learned to listen a little deeper to the actual meaning behind the goal rather than just the transaction from the goal itself. The number 1 goal most people set every new year is to go on a diet! Crazy I know. While I do believe managing a healthy weight in important, it is through a consistent and mindful lifestyle approach that really does the trick. So please, don't just go on a diet. Find a way to make these new healthy habits stick around for a lifetime.
Here are 3 ways you can make your 2020 goals stick over the next year.
1. Persistence over Perfection. One of my favorite concepts around goal setting comes from this book called The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson. He highlights the need to have healthy daily habits and these things that are easy to do are also easy not to do. If we rely on motivation alone, we will be stuck in this vicious cycle of starting and stopping only to finish when we can taste perfection. Over this last year, I had intended to read 60 books for my 2019 goal. In June, I fell off my daily habit and fell behind, so I almost gave up. While I did not read the entire 60 books, I did read 25 more after I picked my daily habit back up. I learned far more from my persistence than quitting early because I wasn't perfect.
2. Goals are SMART. This formula is designed to make sure you really get to the details of your goal. To create a healthier lifestyle (not diet) be sure to set short-term and long-term goals. If you don't accomplish your goal, revisit #1 and see how you can adjust the steps to the desired outcome.
S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Time-bound
Example: I will walk every day for 30 minutes right when I get home from work.
3. Why 7x. As I mentioned earlier, the reason behind the goal is often far more motivating than the external goal itself. I use this exercise to really understand the meaning layers behind the goal. Let’s try it together.
GOAL: I want to lose 15 lbs over the next year and keep it off.
Why (1): because I don’t feel healthy
Why (2) don’t I feel healthy? Because I wake up and my entire body aches
Why (3) does my entire body ache? Because I have been working so much, I hardly have time to myself.
The questioning keeps going until you reach a conclusion or why 7x. This is the good stuff. Now look at this goal. Does it align with your final why? If not, how can you adjust your goal to make mini goals within your goal to set yourself up to succeed. To solve the real why not just the external side effect to a bigger issue.
What is your 2020 vision? Are you goal setting or vision boarding for an intentional year ahead? If you want to share your ideas below or on our Community Facebook page, please tag #2020vision #lifeat3mph