How many times did you end the year thinking “Gee…I can’t believe how quickly this year went!”

How many times did you think about those famous “new resolutions” we come up with, each year and realised another year has gone by and you had either given up on them by March (if not early!) or even better, decided that you would stop making new resolutions so you would stop being disappointed with yourself. Disheartening isn’t it!? 

The other day, I translated this article for a French reader and thought, “yeah well done Ka”….I did all these positive changes, created new, healthy habits, I haven’t touched coke zero since I gave it up. I’m on week 4 of BBG 1.3. I haven’t stuffed my face with a whole pack of cookies in two years but I still fall off the wagon once in a while and most importantly, I haven’t lost those 10 flipping kilos I put on after getting pregnant and eating for 3.

Usually when I say something like this to people who don’t really know me, I get “you don’t need to lose 10 kilos” or “don’t be hard on yourself”. So I’m not being hard on myself (although 10 kg overweight means that I’m probably being hard on my body, my heart, my kidneys and my general well-being) but this is not the issue.

10 kg is just a number, it could be 2, 5 or 15 kilos, it doesn’t really matter. What does matter to me is that I’m starting the year with something that has been on my new year resolutions for years and that bugs me big time!
It could be anything!
For me, it’s a well-being thing but that could be that you have been 10 years in the same job you hate and you’re still writing on your new resolutions: get a new job!

Or you have been divorced for years and you wish you were again in happy, healthy relationships but you’re still single!

So I’m telling you…I’m not going through another year so that in 2017 I find myself writing the same goals again.
I’m seriously done with this sh**t and I’m not going to stop writing new resolutions as a cope out because I actually love writing new goals, think ahead, start fresh and re-invent myself. This is the year when you and I are going to make things happen, right!?

HERE ARE MY 3 TIPS ON HOW TO GET THINGS DONE THIS YEAR WITHOUT WASTING ANOTHER YEAR

1/ WRITE A BUCKET LIST THAT IS INSPIRING TO YOU
I did lots of things this month (including selling my business), featuring in a video for a social media campaign, wrote a lot of new content for the blog including these 8 fitness motivation tips, started a new fashion feature, freelance writing, posted some really nice house tours BUT I haven’t tried making a new video as I said I would, I haven’t sent my first Blog E-news yet (7 days left!).

I will send my E-news soon but first, you and I are going to write a lovely and inspiring list of things we want to do this year and that can be anything about your personal life or work! There is no limit to the sky.
Think of it as a happy, uplifting brainstorming where no-one says you can’t. You can and you will! This is your list. You can share it with me if you want in the comments below or keep it yourself. I just want you to think about all the things you could do, you would want to do if you could.

2/ WRITE A MONTHLY TO DO LIST
Once you’ve written this uplifting and inspiring bucket list then we will break it down in small, achievable steps. For instance, my goal is to lose 10 kg the healthy way which realistically, is going to take 4 to 6 months. Therefore, my monthly goal to achieve my end goal will be consistency: eat clean, work out regularly, carry on all my healthy habits, do the BBG 3 times/week etc, don’t get impatient and disheartened after 3 weeks etc.

I will post mine next week as an example but basically it will include things that I’m really passionate about this year: sticking to my fitness programme, having weekly date nights with Steve (which is something we’ve been trying to implement for years), supporting Mila in achieving good grades, making my new career path a success (without getting stressed out and comfort eating), spending time with my girlfriends and basically choosing life.

3/ WRITE AN “ACHIEVEMENT” LIST
I want you to write is a list of all the things you’ve achieved in your life.
It can include finding your feet again after a painful divorce, overcoming your fear of flying, giving up smoking, learning how to bake, changing your habits for positive ones, walking to the office, feeling happy again after someone close to you passed away, deciding that depression is not a dead end, finding a new job after being made redundant, travelling the world, overcoming sickness, overcoming an addiction, changing your life.
It can also include little things like travelling to New-York for the first time, learning a new sport/language/skills and daily little things that don’t seem to be a big deal to anyone else but in fact, are a big deal to you (i.e. resisting that chocolate cake and have a banana instead if you have a sweet tooth).
We are all very good good at focusing on the things we can’t do and we excel at brushing off the things we’ve achieved.

This is a way to re-train your mind and acknowledge your successes not failures and I want 15 to 20 things on your list! :-)

4/ BE ACCOUNTABLE
I think being accountable is one of the most important thing. It never tastes nice to admit we didn’t do something we said we were committed to do so I’m putting it here in writing to be accountable and I really invite you to do the same. In fact, if you share your goals with me, what is stopping you or your concerns in the comment box then I will be able to come up with content that will boost you!

PS:
I wrote this on Friday, feeling like I was on fire and then woke up this morning wondering if I should post such a personal post…What would people who are not used to my writing and blog posts think?
I got over the latter because I have decided this is who I am, with all my faults, ups and downs and the constant desire to move forward. So take it or leave it but if you find this inspiring and you think it will motivate someone, then please share it.