Friends,
The excitement of setting New Year's resolutions often fills us with a sense of purpose and possibility. But let's be honest, staying focused on those goals as the weeks and months start to roll in, it often is the hardest part: staying focused. Life gets busy, distractions creep in, and sometimes, the motivation that felt so strong in the beginning of your journey just seems to almost fade away.
I've found that one of the biggest challenges is managing my expectations. It's easy to envision a perfect journey toward achieving my goals, but reality doesn't always cooperate. There are setbacks. Sometimes the setbacks feel like BIG mistakes or major failures. There are unexpected challenges, and days when I feel like plain giving up. Staying focused means learning to navigate those moments without loosing site of the bigger picture.
This year, I'm trying something different to maintain focus. First, I decided to set two goals this year. (I shared those in my previous blog post.) And I decided to brake down my goals into manageable, smaller steps. For instance, instead of saying, "I'll be healthier this year," I've set specific, actionable goals like drinking more water, prioritizing sleep, and going for walks with my dog. Sometimes my coffee to-go mug is with me too. These bite-sized commitments feel less overwhelming and more achievable.
Second, I'm building in regular check-ins to reassess my progress. Every week, I'm taking a moment to review what's working for me, what's not, and where I might need to adjust so I can move forward towards my end goal. This not only helps me stay accountable but also allows me to celebrate small wins along the way. For example, to take better care of myself and practice good self-control, I journal almost every day and I instituted intermittent fasting. It has allowed me more energy and clarity of mind to tackle my other projects, goals and job every day. It's been a positive thing for me.
Lastly, I'm leaning into my close loved ones for support. I often talk to my husband about what I am doing and he encourages me from time to time when I need it. Sharing my goals with a trusted family member or friend can create a sense of accountability that keeps me grounded and well-rounded. Knowing that others are cheering me makes a huge difference when the going gets tough.
If you're finding it hard to stay focused on your resolutions, know that you're not alone. The journey is rarely linear, and it's okay to stumble. What matters most ist hat you keep going. Let's remind ourselves why we set these goals in the first place and give ourselves permission to start fresh whenever we need to.
Here's to staying focused, staying kind to ourselves and others, and taking one step at a time.
Happy Sipping,
Jenelle