Most of us set out with the best intentions for the upcoming year. We tell ourselves things like, “I’ll read a book every month”, “I’ll go to the gym 6 days/week”, or “I’m only going to have salads for lunch at work each day”. While these are bold statements to make, and beautiful goals in theory, many people aren’t starting from a place where that is even close to their reality.
For example, setting out to read a book every single month for the year can be difficult for the person who hasn’t made time for any leisurely activities like this the past year. Telling yourself that you’ll eat a certain way all year or work out all week, whereas you haven’t stepped foot in years is a good way to burn out, so these goals may not be realistic enough to really see success and stick to it.
Absolute statements like “always” and “never” really push the all-or-nothing mentality, which ultimately is the downfall of most goal-setters. This is something most of us struggle with, even occasionally as dietitians, we remind ourselves to have grace for our efforts and how we find balance in life. These absolute statements bring on shame, guilt, and disappointment when we can’t meet them 100%.
Rather than aiming for perfection on your goals, what if you aimed for 1% better than yesterday? Instead of giving up on your goals this year, what if you set smaller, more attainable goals for each month or even each week? The real goal should be progress over perfection, because that is where we see results.
If you struggle to reach your goals for the year, or are ready to set some with an exact game plan for your health, reach out to us today to get started and stay ahead of the game in 2022!
By: Missy Croyl, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
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