Make plans, not resolutions.

NorthCascades

I want to share something I read a long time ago on a site about the joys of hiking and climbing, and sometimes about other things too. I'm posting this now because of the obvious seasonal urge to come up with a list of promises to ourselves.

Every December, we take stock of what we did last year, writing another chapter in our autobiography. A few days later, sometimes after pounding way too much champagne, we gear up for another trip around the sun by deciding how we want to improve ourselves in the next year. Sometimes we throw out pretty vague statements that don’t require us to be accountable to ourselves: I’m going to be a better husband this year. I’m going to lose weight. I’m going to run more.

...

So are we dreaming, or are we making plans? There’s a big difference between broadcasting something about someday riding the Kokopelli Trail and sending one close friend a rough itinerary and asking, What are you doing the weekend of April 20th?

http://semi-rad.com/2013/01/make-plans-not-resolutions/

Ann262

Good read!

CarlydogsMom

In the same vein, I read an article several months ago that postulated having a "method" was better than having a "goal." While it's perfectly fine to have both, figuring out your method to have a lifestyle of fitness and health seems to ensure more long-term success than having a goal. You can reach a goal, but without a method to maintain that goal, it's incredibly hard to keep. Whereas, if you have a method, you will likely reach your goal and stay there. Or you may not reach your goal, but you'll get in the general vicinity, which may work better in the long run.

That kind of helped me approach my maintenance journey better, and this article helps focus in on refining my method. Thanks!

diannethegeek

Good post.

Ann262

Another thought on goals: Process oriented goals are better than outcome oriented goals. For example, I have a "goal weight". I have a number in my head of what that should be. That is an outcome. I don't have much control over attaining that. What I do have control of is what I eat, how much and how active I am. If I set daily or weekly goals around what I am eating and how much exercise I get, I am setting process goals. I do have control over them as long as they are realistic.

bketchum1981

I like this suggestion.

I like to think of the New Year as a continuation of the journey.

Djproulx

Good post. One saying that I like is " A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish"

NorthCascades

I've had this goal, or maybe wish, for a few years now: ride a bike up Slate Peak. That's the highest road in the state, it's very rough, it's a hot and thirsty place, and it's heartbreakingly beautiful.

I always had a basic idea about how I was going to do it. When the pedal comes up, push it down again. Stay in a hotel nearby so I don't have to drive too far. It's really not that complicated.

I did it last fall. Now I need a new goal. Actually, I have a backlog of goals, I need to decide which ones to focus on.

girlwithcurls2

Celebrate my 50th by climbing Mt. St. Helens again. Did it 3 years ago with my family. It kicked my butt, but wow, what a great day. I want to do it again. It's never the same twice, I hear Can't make this goal without a plan...

GemstoneofHeart

SMART goals
Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time bound

I.E. - I will lose 30 pounds by July 31, 2018. I will do this by eating a deficit of 500 calories a day which is about one pound each week.

Ann262

GemstoneofHeart wrote: »

SMART goals
Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time bound

I.E. - I will lose 30 pounds by July 31, 2018. I will do this by eating a deficit of 500 calories a day which is about one pound each week.

Good but, what if you eat a deficit of 500 calories per day, but come July 31, you have only lost 25 pounds or 15? Have you failed? Some people would think they did fail.

That is was I was talking about the difference between process goals and outcome goals. Process goals are within your control, outcome goals are not.

One has to be careful of outcome goals and know yourself well. Some people feel defeated if they did everything right but didn't get the outcome they expected by MM/DD/YY.

deannalfisher

GemstoneofHeart wrote: »

SMART goals
Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time bound

I.E. - I will lose 30 pounds by July 31, 2018. I will do this by eating a deficit of 500 calories a day which is about one pound each week.

better would be - i want to lose 30lbs by July 31; you have a goal, but you aren't being definitive

or go smaller - 30lbs is a huge goal - but you could break it down into 5lb goals - or similar