Changing Routines

One of the hardest things to do is changing up a routine you had for years. But sometimes change is good. To aspire in making such a change into something that is long lasting and positive, you must look at the immediate benefits or output, then the long range effects.

For example, changing the way you get out of bed and prepared for the day could be a major change if your lifestyle has altered such as a new job with different hours, additions to families, moving a workout to the morning rather than evening, or just looking for some "me time" before the family awakes and the circus resumes. Follow these steps and changing something that might have been a far fetched idea at first, may become one of your New Year changes that inspire you to achieve your New Year's Reward.

Step #1: Create an objective. Why do I want this and how it will benefit me. Write it down and keep it positive. Do not write down the negatives. If getting up a 5am is your goal for change, don't write down "I'll wake up to a 4 on my clock"

Step #2: Pick one reason that this is what you want even though there may be several that come to mind. For me, it was getting up 15 minutes earlier so I can enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the news. Simple. If I were to add: get the dog outside sooner, let my body wake up before taking a shower, have a peaceful breakfast..all which are side products, the goal becomes too critical. If I don't get up earlier, I miss out on all these benefits. The alarm goes off at 5:15am and you wake up realizing you missed out on a lot and possibly start your day feeling down or defeated. Again, set a small goal first.

Step #3: Do it. If you have to hit the snooze bar twice each morning, back it up so by the time the alarm goes off a third time, that's your time to get up. If your change is on how you finish your day rather than start, or what foods you take to work for lunch or snacks, then start small. Pick one favorite food to replace something bought fast food one or two times a week (not 5), or decide that listening to music for 15-30 minutes each night is important enough to ditch Facebook. Maybe over time, your Facebook addiction ends at 8:00pm leaving a good hour or so for yourself and not sharing with others posts of insignificance the next day.

Change is hard, but can be good. Too much may lead to confusion or pure inconsistencies which may set off triggers of anxiety. To start, keep it simple, realistic, and rewarding. Having a pair of slippers on and cup of coffee watching the morning news trumps a wishy-washy extra 15 minutes of sleep any day.

Rewards, Not Resolutions

I find it important every year to reflect on last year before I answer somebody's question: "What is your New Year's resolution?". Then after several years of making something up or mimicking everyone else, I decided this year to focus on something different - what's going to be my Reward?

So, in light of this midnight thought, I began thinking of all the challenges in my life and how I have been doing battling them and what ways I can better achieve success over them. My little project to support others that truly need it, My F.A.S.T. Multisport is an acronym for My Foundation to Aspire greatness, Surround myself with friends and family, and Transcend into something bigger than I possibly imagined. After working on this and my own well being, I added "Multisport" because the goal of this charitable foundation is not driven by one physical outlet (like running), but whatever one can love, continue to build and heal, and use as a life long passion. For me, it's running, cycling, pick-up basketball or soccer, and duathlons (like a triathlon, but instead of swimming, you run first (and last).

Rewards - Not Resolutions: Focus on one, individual, at one moment in time "I did it!". For me, it's placing in a run or a duathlon, something I've come close to, but haven't achieved yet. I make it manageable too. Am I going to place top 3 overall? No. Can I do that in my age group? Yes, and that's my reward. For all those people who say the traditional "lose weight" or "exercise more" resolutions, try picking one goal that is attainable and will drive you. The "lose weight" and "exercise more" has to happen to get that reward, right? Maybe your Reward is not a physical achievement (although placing top 3 is emotional too). Maybe your Reward is a car to free yourself of your parents, open a savings plan for your kids' college, or even going on a vacation. Many resolutions for those could be quite timely, stressful, and maybe too vague. Zone it in, specific. ..and even change the old fashion "Resolution for 2012" to "My Reward I Want in 2012"

Happy New Year. A fresh perspective, not necessarily a new beginning! Go grab that Reward you want!