The ABC Approach To Your New Year Resolutions & Goals

Happy New Year!

I'm never sure how long it's acceptable to say that, but with today being the 2nd I am confident this is still allowed.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, New Year and break (if you were able too).

Long time readers may remember that my family and I write down memories throughout the year and collect them in a memory jar ready to read on New Years Eve.

We continued this tradition and I can see us doing this for a long long time.

It's a great way to collect and remember moments that can easily be forgotten. The smile it brings to our faces and hearing the kids laugh and start talking about it again is so special.

Little things like Jonah completing 12 hot wheels puzzles in one day.

Myla nailing a back walkover for the first time

Finally getting to a lunch date with my wife after trying and not being able to for months at a time.

Joy is often found in these seemingly small moments.

Don't be in such a rush that you miss them.

Now that we are in January I am sure you have set some goals and new years resolutions for 2025.

Or at least have some hopes and aspirations for the upcoming year.

Whether 2024 was a great, terrible or somewhere in the middle year for you. Starting a new year can give you fresh perspective and energy ready to carry on, improve, start again or just maintain yourself.

I have talked in the past about my struggle to achieve one of my goals in working out a minimum of 3 times a week. It was going great until the summer holidays and I really struggled to get back into a routine when the kids went back to school.

I have set myself a goal this year to workout a minimum of three times a week but with a different approach.

One that I think could be helpful to you and your goals.

Instead of just having that one goal, knowing it's a goal I have struggled with in the past.

I am breaking it down into 3 different grades.

A,B,C

A = 45 minute workout including weights, stretching and cardio

B = 25 minute workout as above

C = 5 minute workout doing anything

This helps me understand what my A game looks like and what my minimum effort looks like.

Whilst I would love to be on my A game all the time, the fact is that just isn't always possible. I get sick, kids get sick, work committments, days where I just don't feel like it etc etc.

In the past not being able to do a 45 minute workout would lead to me not doing anything, why bother if I can't do it properly!

The ABC approach helps shift that.

So even on days where I either genuinely cannot do 45 minutes, or I convince myself I can't. Then I can still aim for my B effort. Which is still better than nothing. If that doesn't work then I have my C effort as a last resort.

The C effort is also a trick and a question to ask myself.

Can I ever truly say I don't have 5 minutes to workout?!

The answer to that is no, so I have no excuse not to start.

It also forces me to start, and the likelihood of me starting a workout for just 5 minutes is low. I am much more likely to carry on for at least 15 to 20 minutes as I started.

Starting is often the hardest part. But when you do it leads to progress. Then compounds into more progress.

Give this approach a try and let me know how you get on!

Cheering you on,

Dan

If you don't know where to start then take this free 5 day goal breakthrough challenge. In just 10 minutes a day for 5 days you will be given all the tips on how to set a goal that is meaningful to you.

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