Mom in the Mtns

Happy New Year everyone!  It’s officially 2014, aka the BEST YEAR EVER.

And yes, I say that every year.  But I don’t see why it can’t be the best year ever!  This year I want my blog to be full of monthly goals (that I actually stick to), but I’ve also got some year long goals that I plan on working on throughout 2014.  I’ve already posted my running and fitness goals here, but I’ve also got some other goals for 2014 because I really do love a good challenge:

• Keep blogging.  I really love getting to know all of my fellow bloggers and I can’t wait to see what all of you accomplish in 2014!  I also want to continue participating in Link Ups, giveaways, and challenges!
• Clean up my diet.  I’m horrible at eating healthy so this vague goal is my first step towards fixing myself.  More details on this in future posts!
• Read at least 1 book each month.  Reading is my favorite way to relax and I’m sure I can fit some time into my busy schedule to read at least 12 books in 2014.
• Try 1 new thing each month.  My husband and I talked about this goal and we’re really excited about it!  It can literally be something as simple as trying a new restaurant, but I’m going to use this goal to my advantage and try as many new things as I possibly can!  I need some new hobbies!
• Go on more date nights with Andrew.  This kind of goes along with trying new things, because those are the best kind of dates.  But we definitely need to step away from the computer and TV every once in a while and just focus on being with each other.
• Make a 2014 Jar.  This idea is genius and I think it will not only help me appreciate the little things in life, but will also give me something really awesome to read in 2015!  I just need to remember to write one every day!

So how am I going to accomplish every goal?  I think we all go into each new year with great ideas about what we want to accomplish and don’t necessarily plan out how to accomplish them.  After about a month, we usually end up forgetting our goals or giving up.  But it doesn’t have to be that way!  Here are some tips on how to accomplish your goals for 2014:

1.  Shout your goals from the roof tops.  If you tell your friends, family, blog/twitter/facebook followers about your goals, you’ll feel much more accountable for them.  When I signed up for the Runner’s World Run Streak, the thought of blogging about skipping a run made me want to cry.  So I ran every single day.  It works!

2.  Use the buddy system.  Your friends and family might want to join in, and reaching those goals is easier when you’ve got company!  I’ve got some big fitness and running goals, so I joined online groups that will help keep me accountable and also be there for me when I need a little help.  It’s so much fun to share your successes with a group of people that are doing the same thing!

3.  Make your goals big and scary, but take tiny steps to reach them.  My goal of running a half marathon in February is still scaring me to death.  And that’s okay, because I think that the scariest things in life are the things that are most worth working towards.  Sure, it’s intimidating – but breaking that big scary goal down into tiny manageable goals helps a lot.  Making goals such as running races longer than a 5k to prepare myself for longer runs, finding a manageable training plan and sticking to it, and trying out lots of different running trails on my long run days has helped me work towards my big goal.  Sometimes it helps to write down your goal, and then make a list of the things you think you need to do in order to reach that goal.  Remember that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so trying too much too soon might backfire.  Give yourself a lot of time to get used to your new goals!

4.  Reach your goals on your terms.  Chances are, lots of other people have reached the same goal you’re going for and can offer advice and tips to help you reach that goal too.  But ultimately you need to find a way to make the goal manageable for you.  If the only way to motivate yourself to participate in a run streak is by buying cute new running clothes (trust me, you’ll need some extra clothes) then do that, even if someone else thinks it’s a little weird.  My friends and family thought I was crazy for doing the Runner’s World Run Streak, but it helped me reach my running goals.  You’ve got to enjoy the journey to your goal, so do it on your terms.

5.  Treat yo self.  I don’t mean you should go out and eat a donut every time you reach a goal (although I’m not saying I’d judge you…donuts are pretty awesome), but you should definitely reward yourself for a job well done.  Maybe after that half marathon goal is complete, you can buy yourself one of those 13.1 car magnets.  Or when you lose your goal weight, buy yourself a cute new outfit to show it off!  I believe in celebrating the little things in life, so any time you reach a goal you should celebrate in a big way!

Tom and Donna know what’s up.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go watch Parks and Rec!

What are your goals for 2014?  How do you reach your toughest goals?