Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

20 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.VOICEofMPpodcast.com start planning now. Give yourself ample time to visualize resolutions. With well thought out and intentional goals, you’re much more likely to stick with them. During your brainstorming session, keep in mind what your current lifestyle and time constraints look like. “Goals today go back to redefining what success looks like,” said business coach and entrepreneur Jessica Smith of Olive & Co. “Take a step back and look at your personal life. What are things within your control that you can make better?” Bearing in mind the things you can control in an unpredictable environment is important, however, it’s equally important to allow for fluidity within your goals and to avoid rigid objectives. Instead of setting a goal to be the top salesperson on your team, which is subject to a slew of outside influences, focus instead on becoming a better salesperson or more efficient at work. Goals like these are harder to track, but they still require dedication and a plan of action. Having a plan in place — whether it consists of committing to continued education, finding a mentor or asking for and implementing feedback — sets the framework for success and is less likely to be derailed by outside influences. The same theory rings true when your focus is on fitness. “People make a commitment that’s not realistic,” said Dianne Anderson, fitness instructor and owner of Jag Athleisure. “After two weeks, the negative self-talk begins when they’re not making progress.” The first step in setting realistic fitness goals is finding a way to incorporate activities into your existing lifestyle. It’s impractical to think that you can go from being a couch potato to hitting the gym six days a week. Waking up 30 minutes earlier each day to go for a walk, taking a bike ride after work or participating in a virtual exercise class a few times a week is much more attainable. Anderson recommends setting incremental micro- goals that you can realize within a few weeks to keep your morale up, such as holding a plank for one minute. This is where you can benefit from having a fitness coach, since they can evaluate your current fitness level and tailor benchmarks to help you reach your potential. Once you reach the initial goal, adjust it, make it a bit harder, and give yourself credit for that small success. By setting goals around physical ability instead of shedding pounds, you’re shifting your focus toward a more positive aspect of fitness. The benefits of daily activity go beyond how you look, and Anderson noted that as her clients embark on their fitness journeys “they notice a change in their choices, their energy and their mobility. When you make a commitment to working out or doing something for your body, that takes you away from all the stress for a little bit.” Reducing stress goes hand-in-hand with another goal that many of us have but don’t often verbalize. How many times have you listed, “I want to be happy this year” as one of your resolutions? There’s no time like the present to make happiness your priority, and while the state of the world is uncertain, your own state of mind is one thing you can always control. Start by making a commitment to do something that brings you joy for one hour each week. Whether you enjoy reading, baking, playing video games or gardening, put it on your calendar and treat it like it’s a doctor’s appointment you can’t miss. Work toward finding time for yourself every day, even if it’s only 10 minutes. A happy you is going to have a much better chance at reaching other goals and embracing flexibility to navigate obstacles. Once you’ve figured out goals, it’s important to write them down. Smith suggests putting up a dry erase board where you can list your long-term goals, then drilling them down to the things you need to do this month, this week and today. Another tactic is to enlist an accountability partner. Find a friend or colleague to share your detailed goals with, then make a point of checking in weekly to mark your progress. It can be easy to make excuses for missing benchmarks when you’re the only one who knows health and wellness