Happy Friday everyone! Well, I'm starting this post on Friday, so hopefully I can get it finished before the end of the day. I have recently had the pleasure of jumping on board the @steemitbloggers train after admiring the group from afar for a while. I really don't know what took me so long, because it is really an awesome and diverse group of people (and there are some exciting changes coming up ahead)! This week @zord189 put out a contest to share what we want to accomplish in the coming new year, and I thought this was a great one to jump in on.
While I can't say I usually take the opportunity to make a lot of specific New Year's resolutions, I am always a fan of goal setting at all points in the year. Obviously in my line of work as a trainer it is really important for my clients to have goals to be able to work towards as far as health and fitness goes. If you don't have goals, how do you know if you are improving? Not only does it let clients know that they are achieving something, but it also gives me feedback to know I am succeeding at giving proper instruction as a coach. That being said, as much as I encourage this for others I seem to have fallen off that practice myself lately. Do as I say, not as I do, right?
This time of year is really great for a little reflection, which is a great first step in figuring out what goals are actually important for you to accomplish. I am really pleased with a lot of boxes I have checked off this year on my list both personally and professionally. I rocked out the best half marathon time I have ever had back in April, I finally created an LLC to start growing my personal business, my weekly farmers market trips have resulted in blossoming relationships with my local farmers, and I feel like I continue to improve in my blogging skills (especially with taking better food photos). I still have a lot of areas to grow in, but I feel pretty good about what I have brought to the table in 2018!
However, I think I have gotten a little complacent these last couple of months. I am definitely a person (like many of you, I'm sure) that tends to stay in her comfort zone. I like challenging myself physically and mentally to a certain point, then I have a tendency to pull back before I get too uncomfortable. It is easy, as well, when you hit a certain level of satisfaction to forget to set new goals to work towards the next level. I felt great finishing that half marathon, but then since I didn't really get excited for another goal race this year I've kind of gotten complacent on my running. I've made friends with my amazing farmers, now I need to work on some ideas to capitalize on those friendships in a way that can perhaps tie into my health and wellness business in a mutually beneficial way. Change kind of scares me a bit, but so does stagnating and peaking before I've even turned 40! 😜
So perhaps at this point I don't have specific goals nailed down for 2019, but my biggest goal is to make them!! At least at this point in the game I know a few areas that I want to get back to working on a plan for personal improvement:
- Running: I love just getting out and running for the joy of it, but I know I also enjoy working toward a specific race to have motivation to work harder. I need to start looking at the 2019 racing calendar to pick some races and then actually work from a training plan to hit some new goals. In the same category, I have shirked my duties writing a weekly article for the @runningproject page, so I would like to get back to that routine again because I love that community, as well!
- Social media: I have gotten a little more consistent with posting, but I think I could still benefit from a more planned out approach. A few of my pals have a really good approach when it comes to sharing, so I have some ideas on that end to continue streamlining my online time.
- Business: It's time to hustle. I hate "selling" myself, but in my line of work I have to do it if I want new clients. As one of my amazing long-term clients put it to me recently, "You are only depriving people of a healthier life by not putting yourself out there more and offering up your services." I need to get over being apologetic about earning a living like everyone else. That was part of my motivation in finally making my Plants to Planks an official business. I think it will push me to work a little harder instead of being content always working for someone else.
I've definitely got some work to do to get my plan in place to achieve some new things next year, but just typing this up is a good place to start! I'm sure I'll even come up with a few more areas to work on once I get the ball rolling. Until then, I'm about to go hang out with this dude and celebrate the holidays with my awesome co-workers this evening!
What are you guys looking to work on for 2019??
