042 ⎮ Anti-Diet, Pro-Wellness Resolutions and Goal Setting

Do you wonder how to make goals that are NOT focused on weight loss?

Are you wanting to improve your health this year, but don't want to make another weight loss or body size goal?

I hear ya... annnnddd it's totally possible. 

In this week's podcast episode, I'm going to teach you how to make anti-diet, pro-wellness new year's resolutions or goals. 

But first, let me ask you: why should we set goals in the first place?

Well, goal setting is associated with:

• Improved focus
• Increased concentration
• Increased excitement
• Less depression and anxiety
• Better ability to set boundaries
• LOWER BURN OUT!

And just FYI, burn out is:

• More common in women than men
• More common in mothers than childfree women
• More common in health care and service providers
• Very common in mental health practitioners (20-40%)*
• Leads to LOWER empathy*

More importantly, when we're burned out:

• We don’t do as good of a job.
• We’re not pleasant to family members and loved ones.
• Our health suffers.
• Our mental health suffers.
• We could face financial consequences.

So even though it may seem a little "en vogue," burn out actually has serious consequences. One of the ways that we can help prevent burn out IS by setting goals... but NOT in the traditional way you've thought of goal setting and NOT in the way that diet culture has taught you to set health goals either.

When you set resolutions or goals this year, I want you to think: 

R.E.A.L.

R: Reasonable

• Is this goal reasonable for your season of life?
• Is this goal reasonable for your financial status?
• Is this goal reasonable for your emotional and physical health?
• Is this goal reasonable for your TIME constraints?
• Is this goal reasonable for your passions, joys, desires, and talents?

E: Expectations

• Does this goal meet your expectations?
• Is this goal under “realistic expectations?” (Think critically.)
• What presupposed expectations/ limitations do I carry about this particular goal?

A: Alignment

• Is this goal aligned with your season of life?
• Is this goal aligned with your current priorities?
• Is this goal aligned with your personal values?
• Is this goal aligned with your integrity?
• Is this goal aligned with your financial, relationship, geographic restraints?
• Is this goal aligned with your physical and emotional health?
• Is this goal aligned with your passions, joys, desires, and talents?

L: Lower the Bar

Whatever your goals are now:

• Lower the bar!
• Double amount of time it will take
• Increase amount of money it will take
• Increase amount of energy expended
• Add in some emotional stressors too

Lastly, do a R.E.A.L.ity check!

• Check in regularly: at least weekly
• Reassess:
  • Is this goal still reasonable?
  • Is this goal still meeting my expectations?
  • Is this goal still aligned with me?
  • Is this goal lowering the bar?
• Acknowledge your emotions and feelings throughout the process.

In practice, this means:

• With your season of life, priorities, needs, and desires in mind:
• Write a list of 10 goals.
• Limit the list to 5 goals.
• Cut it down to 3 goals.
• Assess whether it’s a R.E.A.L. goal.

Share your R.E.A.L. goals with me on Instagram! Click here to connect.

Listen to complete podcast episode here: