It’s the time that we all look back at what we achieved over the past 12 months, and ahead at what we want to achieve over the next. Here are a few thoughts on setting your goals towards Challenge 2021!
- It’s easy to look around social media and see people who seem to be smashing their goals, and setting huge ones to tackle this year. It can be intimidating or make us feel that our goals aren’t ‘big’ enough. But we are all on our own journey and our goal is a challenge that is important to us and our aims, no one else’s.
- Remember that the goals you set yourself are a long term aim, something you want to achieve over the year, so don’t get disheartened if you aren’t seeing big changes by the end of January. Break your goals down into smaller chunks; steps towards the finish line.
- The saying ‘it’s a marathon not a sprint’ definitely applies here. Unlike a running race, you are in charge and you can say if the finish line needs to be moved. You might get to March and need to realign your goals, push yourself a little more, or even change the race completely. This isn’t a failed attempt, it’s making your goals a working document.
- Getting complacent or tired isn’t an excuse to give up early and say “at least I tried”. When this happens, as it most likely will, you re-adjust your goals or add a new one that will help you get back on track.
- Decide how best to hold yourself accountable, and there is no right or wrong way of doing this. Share them on social media, don’t share them, keep them to yourself and chip away at them, write a contract to yourself or talk to people that can help you achieve them. Whatever helps you to reach your end goal is the right thing to do.
Whether your New Year’s resolutions are active ones, or to help you progress in other areas of your life just remember to break them down into achievable chunks and be sure to celebrate your mini victories along the way!
Schools' Active Community Coach 