Happy New Year!

We hope everyone is off to a happy, healthy start to 2009!

I was thinking; instead of setting New Year's "Resolutions" this year (like every year!), how about setting a few short-term, specific goals instead? For example:

Instead of saying, "This year, I resolve to lose weight."

Change this and write down on a piece of 'important' paper you will see every day to read:

"I will lose 5 pounds by January 31st."
But that's not it!! How are you going to do this???? You need to be very specific.

"I will lose 5 pounds by January 31st by working out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 45 minutes."

"I will lose 5 pounds by January 31st by eating a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner and 2 small snacks each day."

"I will lose 5 pounds by January 31st by telling 'so-and-so' (be specific - such as a co-worker, or good friend who will hold you accountable....or by telling me, TAMMY BERNARDO, who will definitely hold you accountable!)

"I will lose 5 pounds by January 31st by drinking at least 8 glasses of water each day and eliminate pop from my diet. I will drink water throughout the day instead of just with my meals. I will hold off on my 'coffees and teas' until I know I am well hydrated with water.

I hope you get the idea. You cannot expect to be successful if you are not specific in your goals and if you don't set a goal date.

I had to laugh....the other day I received my monthly newsletter from Pavel Tsatsouline (a former physical training instructor for the Soviet Special Forces, currently a subject matter expert to the U.S. Marine Corps, the National Nuclear Security Administration/U.S. Department of Energy, and the US Secret Service). Here is the first part of his newsletter:
"Comrade, motivational psychobabble will not get you in killer shape. You need a tough goal and a demanding deadline. According to the Parkinson's law, a task will take as much time as you will allot for it. In other words, you will shine under the pressure of an ambitious deadline." He also goes on to tell you to sign up for his latest RKC Kettlebell course, "to see what you are made of."

I take this to mean: DEMAND a specific deadline for yourself; do not include 'slack time' or a few weeks of 'buffer' in case 'something' comes up. Get serious about your goals and stick to your timetable! By assigning the correct amount of time to completing your goals, you will gain back 'more time' in the long run.....time won't be wasted!

Of course, just because it's a New Year, it doesn't mean your goals have to be about losing weight. Maybe you want to read more. So here we go:

Instead of saying, "This year, I resolve to read more."

Change it to, "My goal is to read one fictional book and one non-fictional book by Jan. 31st."
I will do this by not watching 3 hours of television every night.
I will go to bed one hour early and read.
Instead of listening to music at the gym (on the cardio machines), I will read a book.

Get the idea?

Once your short-term goal is achieved, scratch it off your list and start on the next one!

I hope these suggestions help you achieve your goals for 2009 and help you become better with your time management skills.

Let's 'change' history this year and not 'repeat' history by having to set the exact same 'resolutions' year after year after year.

If I can be of any help....just let me know!

Happy New year to each and every one of you!
Sempai Tammy Bernardo