Attack of the Resolutions!

Well Happy New Years to each and everyone that reads my blog. I thank you and wish you well in 2011. Now onto my resolutions:

Uusally when I get an idea into my head I go guns ablazing and full throttle. That is just the way I am I guess. Did I really think out my resolutions for this year? No. I guess I just chose generic ones. So in no particular order here they are:

1) eat better
2) train for a half marathon (properly)

Oops I thought I had a list of more resolutions. I guess that is it. I have ongoing goals that I always put on the backburner and I never seem to get going with them. They deserve a mention. (Maybe putting them on this blog will add external motivation to me) Here they are:

1) Travel more
2) Learn Guitar
3) Learn another language
4) Run a full marathon
5) Advance beyond yellow belt (in Fong Wei Do)

Actually this list could go on and on. I did cut back on my consumption of coffee. (Made it two days so far) And for my reward I got a blazing headache.

So there are my resolutions. But it is not enough to just say that you have a resolution. You need to set goals.

I always use the gas tank analogy. Oops wrong analogy. Okay back to goal setting. Why do you have to set goals? If you don't set goals you would have a blueprint or plan to reach your resolution. Here I can use the blueprint analogy. How do people build a house? Do they just throw all the tools in a big pile along with the construction materials and hope it turns into a structure? They use a blueprint to help guide way.

So a blueprint is basically what a goal is. A way to get you there. But having goals is just the start of the equation. Back to the blueprint analogy: would you build the roof first and then add the walls after?

Goals have to be three things:

1) measurable: if you need to lose weight (how much 10, 20 pounds)
2) obtainable: you wouldnt say I need to lose 45 pounds in 3 days. It wouldn't be humanly possible.
3) relevant:  if you acheive this goal would you care?

Alright I'm running out of time on this rant. My problem is that I have the mental awareness of what I need to do but I don't apply this knowledge. I guess knowledge is a start.

Does anyone else struggle with goals and resolutions? I would love to here from people in similar situtions. Feel free to drop me a line

-Rab