As I mentioned last year, each year I choose a word to reflect my goals, hopes and “theme” for the year ahead. It’s like a mantra of how I choose to feel and approach situations that may arise in the upcoming 12 months. Previous years words have included:
- Focus – 2007: This was my first year doing this and I just wanted to refocus my efforts, and find some drive to complete projects. Having a word to guide me through the upcoming year really helped narrow my focus and stay on track.
- Change – 2008: This was a year of change. We were on the final stages for our greencards so I knew change was coming. Either we’d be approved and be residents or be denied and kicked out
I don’t do well with sudden changes or surprises which lead to my word for 2009: - Adapt – 2009: This was the year we got our Greencards. The year I lost 25+lbs and got back into “shape”. It was what I refer to as a transition year.
- Balance – 2010: My first year back at “work”. It was tough balancing two professions, and eventually led to me going back fully in to fitness, since then I haven’t looked back 🙂
- Achieve – 2011: Heck I don’t even know where to begin with this one. 2011 was such a year of achievement for me! Personally and professionally!
- Grow – 2012: My goal was to grow professionally, personally and financially. Whilst I achieved a lot professionally with continuing education, and financially it’s been my best year since starting my career again in America, however the biggest growth was in me personally. Learning to say no to things, learning to stick up for what I believe to be the right decision and making decisions and learning from those decisions. It’s also the year that Julie and I grew into best friends 🙂 I love that girl!
So what’s my word for 2013? Usually a word jumps out at me, or has been nagging at me for a while prior to the end of the year (like last years word – grow), this year I’m not sure if it’s the vacation or being sick but nothing really stands out at something that I NEED to drive me through. Not because I can’t think of one but because as usual I want to do EVERYTHING. So many words jumped out at me that I couldn’t really narrow it down at this particular moment in time. I had so many good ones to choose from, these were the runners up: enjoy, TIME, be, give, learn, thrive, NOW, TRY, renew, clear, PLAY, nourish/nurture and in the end I went with:
CHALLENGE. Why? Because I need a push. If Fitocracy and World of Warcraft has taught me anything about myself it’s that I work better with goals, deadlines and “quests” 😉 I strive on the sense of achievement. My favorite thing is checking things off my to-do list 🙂 Heck I am the type of person that adds things to the list I’ve already done, just so I can check them off! Usually my year is divided into monthly goals anyway, that’s just the way I work. Each month I will have things I plan on getting done, habits to make/break and a month is around 30 days and the average habit takes 21 days to become second nature. Goals, challenges and deadlines work for me. As December was a bit of a bust challenge wise I’ve decided to get back on track with a BANG and make 2013 my year of challenges. Challenge myself to do what exactly?
- Challenge myself to – make more time for MYSELF – massage, facials, mani/pedi etc. Maybe suck it up and get my hair colored finally? lol! side note: I really don’t like hairdressing salons!
- Challenge my body by – cross training more – incorporate swimming and yoga back into my schedule, but also make time for my own fitness workouts. I bought two new swimsuits in England, time to put them to use!!! Also I teach two classes a week when the class after mine is yoga, I plan to try out each instructor and see how they are. It may not workout, in which case FIND an instructor/class I like!
- Challenge myself to – read more. I go through phases of this. I’d like to pick one book a month and go with it. Yes it may be fitness related 😉
- Challenge myself to – go hiking again – we did this a few times in 2012 and loved it, the hills around here are amazing, plus the dogs love it!
- Challenge myself to – do more cycling – running isn’t the only activity we can do together!
- Challenge myself to – be more proactive. TIME was my second choice of word for the year, but it’s the CHALLENGE in how to use that time that counts 😉
- Challenge myself to – do things NOW. I either get blinkered by one task thinking or totally sidetracked and end up wasting time. I need to find a happy medium.
- Challenge myself to – live in the moment more. Not everything has to fit into a schedule 😛
- Challenge myself to – finish projects. This touches on my word for 2007 but I have a lot of unfinished projects… namely 2 spinning continuing education courses that need completing.
- Challenge myself to – live my dreams. Dream big, that’s what they say right? Well you don’t get there by staying where you are! Push out your comfort zone!
- Challenge myself to – take one day off completely per month. From work, from fitness, from the internet. DOWNTIME! Do fun things!!! Even it’s just go to the gym for a swim, jacuzzi and sauna then take the time to just chill out! (hence the yoga!)
- Challenge myself to – try new things! I tend to be a creature of habit. I want to try new things, new places, new foods, recipes etc.
- Challenge myself to – challenge others. I love educating people, I love pushing people to change their lives for the better. That’s basically the premise of this blog 😉
So how do I plan on doing all this? By posting a monthly challenge list and updating in my weekly/monthly review how I’m doing! This keeps my accountable. Each month I’ll print my list out, and put it by my office door. I already made a start on January’s challenges by buying myself a massage. With the help of Google calendar I will schedule my workouts too! So far my challenges for January are:
- Yoga twice a month
- Swimming twice a month
- Read: NROLMM
- Get a massage – bought, just need to book it!
- Do my own workouts twice a week
- Hiking/cycling twice a month
- Run two races – I want to run 12 races this year!
- Try out one new recipe
- buy one new outfit (non-workout!!!)
Look for updates coming soon!
If you were wanting some inspiration the creator of this awesome “one little word” idea Ali Edwards, has a great list on her blog from 2011.