Strong You, Stronger Reset

Sometimes getting stuck in a rut is just an inevitable part of life.  Occasionally it’s due to a lack of motivation.  Sometimes we’re simply too stressed out to tackle habit change with gusto.  Maybe that rut formed as a result of boredom and even desolation.  Understandably, few good habits form as a result of following the same old schedule, day in and out, with no guiding light existing at the end of the tunnel marked “change”.  

Now that a glimmer of hope is starting to flicker and strengthen, it’s time to reclaim our best self and hit the reset button with more passion than ever before.  Ready to embrace being made for better?  Want to find the best version of self but not sure where to start?  We’ve mapped out some steps to get your reset started.  

Define your path

If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.  Or not.  If you’re like me, there’s a good chance you’ll hop on the wrong highway without map (or Siri) in hand!  Detours and U-Turns are often unavoidable, but I promise a smoother trek if you start with a plan in place.  Kick off the new you by spending a few minutes writing down where you want to be in the next week, next month, next whatever-time-frame.  Lean more specific and less general.   Want to “get fitter”?  (Raises hand) Does that mean a faster 5k time or half marathon PR?  By how many seconds?  More max reps?  Does that mean the number on the scale increases or decreases?  By how many pounds?  Want to find your perfect plate?  Does that mean keto, low carb, 40/30/30 or something else entirely?  Are you looking for a one rep max? Do other health parameters factor into the equation?  How about VO2 max?  See where I’m going here?  We all have strikingly different definitions of the same goal.  Take time to thoughtfully define yours.  

Map it out

What’s the terrain towards your goal look like?  Spoiler alert- that goal won’t arrive overnight so patience please.  Avoid feeling lost and dejected by mapping out milestones to hit along the way (hint:  these build confidence and assure continuous progress).  Let’s say your goal is to follow a 40/30/30 plan for body composition improvement and total body wellness.  Perhaps you’ll start with calculating macros.  You’ll commit to logging food on an app.  You’ll find a starter meal plan and commit to following it and meal prepping X days out of 7.  You’ll capture baseline metrics and then compare progress at 4, 8, 12 weeks (and so on).  

Pause for Reflection

Consider where you’re at and where you’ve been.  If there was a time in your life where all those goal boxes were checked, what were you doing at that time to bring success to life?  I often work with clients who confess, I used to be fitter / faster/ thinner / healthier…. And my question is, what was different then versus now?  Can we put some of those good and efficacious habits back into the equation?  Often our clients and selves already know what needs to be true for our goals to come into focus.  Self-reflection can help explore what worked and what didn’t.  By identify motivating factors and what works, true change can happen.

Be kind

I often remind myself, in a world where you can be anything, be kind.  Certainly, this is habit we’re working to instill in our children and our world but what about ourselves?  Meeting a goal, setting new habits, and breaking from ruts that have been ingrained for months is no easy task.  Some days you move forward by leaps and bounds.  Other days you stand still.  Some days you slip backwards.  Admonishing yourself with negative self talk helps no one.  Instead, instill the kind voice you show to others.  Remind yourself that you’re made for better.  Dig deep to find the energy to get back up, dust yourself off, and hit the road again tomorrow, plan in place.