Vision of the Future

New Years Resolutions- Change them to Action Plans

Mon, 2011-01-03 12:13

Hi Everyone

Happy new year and I hope you all had a happy Christmas and New Year season. Ours was busy, yet quiet.

Of course the holiday season gives us a bit of time to reflect about our past year and make some plans for the new one. For those people who are inclined to set goals, as I am, it's interesting to see which ones have been accomplished fully, which ones have been reached part-way and which ones needs work. Two of the things I am happiest about is that my book is published, finally, and that I have attended Pilates around 60 times in the last three months and I feel much stronger/better.

A recent article listed the ten most common goals people have - according to one survey. Here they are, not in any order

stop making new year's resolutions
stop smoking
lose weight
exercise more or be more active
get rid of toxic people
save money
start a diary or daily journal
go big and achieve career or personal goals
make a difference in the world

and surprising

stop using social media as much. e.g. facebook

I think the first one is the most telling as it shows the truth about resolutions - just making them is a waste of time.

Far better to make an action plan of one resolution - that is work out what you would gain from reaching that goal, what obstacles you need to address and how you can address them, what additional help or resources do you need, some first steps to achieving a start in that goal and finally, building the achievement of your goal into your daily life.

If you plan to exercise, what days, where, what time, what equipment do you need, etc. Far better to get one set of plans laid out in concrete steps and just go for that.

Happy action plans everyone.

Mahara

Mahara's blog

Moving out of your comfort zone

Sun, 2008-03-30 19:54

Hi:

Retirement means stopping what you may have been doing for dozens of years and doing something new. Some people ease into it by working four days, then three, and then stopping work altogether. Others have such a busy life outside of work that they can hardly fit their work into their life and welcome the extra time. Yet many people are reluctant to stop work because it means moving out of their comfort zone. They are used to their activities and don't know or want to do anything else.

A comfort zone can be a trap. It envelopes you, makes things easy, - well maybe even lazy. You know there are things you'd love to pursue; activities you dropped as a youth, but your comfort zone may have narrowed your life. You aren't used to meeting new people, getting out of your routines. You have to work a bit, do some research, change your routine.

An old quote that the difference between a rut and a grave is the dimensions. Embrace the new and evolving person that you are and the joy that can come from experiencing the world. At the end of your life you can look back and say you gave it your best shot. After all, everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.

M.