Happy New Year: Intention vs. Resolution
If you have a social media account, chances are you have already been accosted by ads for weight loss, gym offers, and detoxes. When the new year rolls in, we tend to try and reinvent ourselves, and one of the most prominent methods centers around exercise and weight loss.
It’s no shock the market value for the global fitness industry is estimated at over $85 billion, with the US taking over $30 billion for its share. Those ads and influencers help to create and drive us to pursue ways to “better” ourselves- yet so few of us follow through; why?
When we create resolutions, we tend to set rigid result-oriented goals: like lose 40 pounds or read 60 books. One common reason that we fail to complete resolutions is that we may not be choosing a meaningful or achievable outcome. If we genuinely don’t care to lose that 40 pounds, we lose the meaningfulness of that measurement. If we did want to read 60 books, we may be less likely to achieve this if we did not consider the time or resources needed to make that possible. Instead of a strict resolution this year, focus on creating intentions that feed into your life goals.
To be successful with intentions, make sure:
Your goal is achievable;
Your goal is something you truly want;
You have the resources and a plan to achieve your goal.
Consider the goal of losing 40 lbs. When you focus on the end result such as fitting into your favorite pair of jeans, moving your body each day, improving your cardio stats, or lowering your blood pressure, you are setting a measurable, tangible lifestyle goal in which statistical progress can be tracked. An achievable goal, such as exploring local trails, allows you to be flexible. It’s not about losing 40 pounds, which may no longer be attainable at some point in the year. You are unlikely to wake up the week of Christmas and decide you’re going to lose that weight by New Year’s Day, but you very well could opt to be outside and explore a trail.
It is important to account for your ability and resources (time and money included) when deciding if an intention is achievable. It is unlikely that the majority of us can wake up on January 1st and decide we want to run six marathons this year, particularly if we are not already long-distance runners. We could instead focus on being more active in a manner that is achievable given our time and ability, or start with 1 marathon, join a training program, or run progressively longer races that help us build the stamina for a marathon. When we shortcut the process, we often abandon the goal.
Schedule time and secure the resources needed to achieve your intention readily available. If you want to cook more at home, you need to schedule weekly time to plan your meals, procure groceries, and prepare your meals. You can set the alarm on your phone or create a calendar reminder to carve out the time needed to make this possible. These are great ways to generate success that is measurable. Even if it’s once a month, it still progresses toward your goal.
What will losing 40 lbs mean to you? How will you get there? What are the ways in which you can commit to managing your health? Consider the true intention behind that resolution you are drawn to. With the original intention of exploring local trails, think of the additional ways one resolution can align with other life goals.:
Walking the trail (increasing time spent moving your body);
Volunteering with nature groups (giving back to your community and meeting new people);
Meeting with friends or family (creating memories with loved ones);
Photographing nature or creating a sketch journal from what you see (introducing more art and creativity into your life).
Tying a new habit or intention to something that we have a strong passion or commitment to can also make it easier to achieve success. Habit stacking or anchoring your new intention or goal to something that you value increases the likelihood that you will build in consistent efforts and time toward that goal.
While you may have resolved to lose weight or run a race, remember why this goal matters most to you and be SMART about your plan of attack. Regardless of your resolutions or intentions, make sure you are able to give yourself the time, space, and energy to achieve your goals. Be gracious with yourself, and have a great year!