A Boomer's Footprint

Tag: goals

  • 2016 – If not NOW, WHEN?

    Set Sail for the Time of Your Life
    Set Sail for the Time of Your Life

    Many of us have UN……….……….s.

    Unfinished projects and business

    Unfulfilled relationships

    Unreached goals

    Unrealized dreams

    Fill in your own UN……………………………………………..

    The funny thing about the UN……………..s is,  they don’t go away.

    They may be hidden in our subconscious or stare us in the face every time we look at a stuffed closet, crowded counter top, a person’s face, a magazine picture, website, book, make the drive to work or any number of triggers which bring an UN…………..…. to our conscious level.

    (Did you ever notice how easy it is to look at something and not really see it? Like last year’s goal list hanging on the refrigerator door for over 365 days.)

    Now is the perfect time to make a big change in this New Year. Several weeks have passed since January 1 so we haven’t broken a New Year’s resolution yet.  That curse, remembrance of past failures is not relevant.

    Listening to radio, television, internet media, I am encouraged by all of the positive press about opportunities and the encouragement to take action in 2016.  Are these new opportunities?  NO, but our attitudes may be.

    This is NOT the time to be influenced by the recent stock decline.  Yes, we should always pay attention to our investments but we should not use the market to talk ourselves out of improving our personal situation.

    I feel very hopeful that change can happen in 2016. If not NOW, WHEN?

    To get started, make your bucket list. Your deadline is this Sunday – four days away. Really think about what you want to accomplish in life.

    What will you do this year?

    What will you accomplish in 5 years?

    What are life time goals?

     

    Pull out or buy a new journal for this process , use words, phrases, or pictures to describe your goals and dreams. Use the journal throughout the year to keep track of your progress. We will be referring to it often.

  • 30 (50 day) Day Weight lose check in

    This is definitely a post I have been procrastinating about – my 30 day check-in. It is now 50 days later. I know I didn’t do everything I could have to meet my goal. So I will add it back to my 2016 resolution list.

    To catch you up.  Back on November 12th, I committed to a 30 day weight lose goal which ended on December 12, 2105. I challenged myself to weigh 121 lbs (down from 124.8) a lose of 3.8 pounds. Here is my result.

    30 day wght lose check in

    The scale reads 122.2, so I missed my mark by 1.2 pounds. While this may not sound like much when the goal is only 3.8 lbs. a 30% miss is significant.

    As I analyze my “misstep” (don’t want to say failure).  I realize two things about my process:

    (1) I didn’t have a real plan.

    (2) I didn’t commit to any regular action.

    After this result, I made two changes:

    (1) I bought a fit bit which I began using right after Thanksgiving. I love this device.  I have already found I am moving more by watching my count.

    So far – between 11/23-11/29 – 5.98 miles and 14,914 steps

                  between 11/30-12/06 – 8.98 miles and 22,628 steps

                  between 12/07-12/13 – 2.67 miles and  6,633 steps (I didn’t wear the piece and got these results)

                  between 12/14-12/20 – 7.81 miles and 19,676 steps (back on track)

                  between 12/21-12/29 – 4.84 miles and 12,242 steps

    So in 5 weeks I stepped – 30.28 miles  and  76,093 steps. Not bad for hardly trying.

    (2) I eat a big salad every day.

    New Goal: Lose those extra 1.2 pounds by January 31, 2016 and keep them off. Can’t wait to see what happens to my waistline!

    PS. Neither P nor I won the bet so we begin again!

  • My 30 day fitness commitment

    I made a $40 bet with my friend, P., to each reach a 30 day fitness goal. Closest to her goal wins the prize. We are supporting each other through the process.  An accountability buddy helps. Our deadline is 12/12/15.

    My goal is to lose 3.8 pounds in 30 days (almost a pound a week). At our weigh in I was 124.8 lbs so my goal weight is 121 lbs. I know this sounds like a small amount but if you keep reading, I will actually show the NOW photo.

    While there are so many changes I could make to reach my goal, I am choosing to complete one action every day. I want to create a new habit in my life.

    So I choose to “Move my body for just 10 minutes a day”.

    Now is the time to drag out the “10 minute trainer program” I bought one year ago. Of course, I first have to find it! Some of you may be like me – purchasing books, programs, CD’s, equipment and props which sit unused collecting dusk and adding to general clutter. Luckily most of the tools do not have an expiration date.

    Besides using the 10 minute program, I can also dance, lift weights and use my mini-trampoline.

    My goal and challenge is engage in a 10 minute activity EVERY DAY.  To keep moving. To build up my stamina, my strength, my energy level and my spirit.

    I know I can do it. I am already into day 4. I seriously am sick of this figure looking back at me in the mirror whenever I have the nerve to really look at the full length of me.

    Check back every few days as I update my progress. Or follow me on twitter @dkellycoach for daily posts.

    IMG_3916

     

     

     

    This is one pic I am NOT blowing up to full size.  Look for the after shot coming 12/12/15.

  • 16 Benefits of “Making a difference for Others”

    IMG_3531 (2)There are so many inspiring stories of people of all ages making a difference with their volunteer efforts. People are making a contribution of time and money.  When we hear these stories, we immediately think of the benefits for the recipients.

    But now research shows the enormous benefits which the giver receives as well.  Here are 16 of them:

    Make our communities a better place

    Provide direct assistance to others

    Create a connection with others

    Have the opportunity to make new friends

    Develop a new support system

    Engage new contacts

    Ability to expand our network

    Provide us with career experience

    Teach us valuable job skills

    Boost our social skills

    Increase our self-confidence, self esteem

    Increase our life satisfaction

    Create a sense of pride and identity

    Reduce our risk of depression

    Helps us stay physically healthy

    Can bring us fun and fulfillment

    WOW. When I read this list, I say where do I sign up.  This sounds like a cure all for a multitude of needs.

    So of course, I don’t believe that volunteering cures ailments or single handedly fulfills needs but this list itemizes several goals on my life list.  Goals I can achieve by “Making a Difference for Others.”

    “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”             Charles Dickens

    Is there a group or community whose mission touches your heart? Is there a group that is in grave need of your help?

    Instead of simply writing a check, is now your time to roll up your sleeves and provide some hands on help?  How can you “Make a Difference for Others?”

     

     

  • Celebration

    Congratulations on a successful year of CHANGE.

    Even if you made just the tiniest adjustment, it is a step in the right direction – and this is a reason to celebrate.

    Last week the charge was to review the year and our progress. Hopefully, we learned something from the exercise.

    It could be a strength we rediscovered, a weakness we need to work on, an untapped skill, a forgotten dream or just a desire to continue to grow and develop.

    Personal development is the ultimate goal of my coaching tips and techniques. Because this both our task and challenge in life.

    How can we do better, how can we experience more of life, how can we persevere through tough times, how can we tap into our true personality and passions, how can we best use out unique talents and skills. We began the year identifying our biggest dreams.

    Of course, it may not have been easy to reach them in one year.

    We had to believe that we could succeed. We had to overcome limiting beliefs and obstacles. We were asked to consciously bring more joy and happiness into our lives. We had to set goals, adopt new habits, know when to delegate, overcome procrastination and ask for the support of our friends and community.

    This is asking a lot. So as a new year begins, it is time to recommit to our dreams.

    Are we continuing on pursuing our dream or still working on solving a problem in life. Either way stay with me as we move int0 2014.

  • 2013 progress review

    Two more weeks until we have completed a full year of setting goals, adopting new habits, creating more positive thinking, overcoming obstacles and especially making our dreams come true.

    This week, let’s review our progress.

    I know I did not succeed in achieving all of my goals, but there is one I am most proud of.

    My background is in finance and math. For me to commit to a writing program was a Hugh challenge.

    For months, I struggled with writing this blog every week. But I am proud to say, that of the 52 weeks, I wrote for 49 of them.
    That is a big WOW. I am happy. I feel like a more confident writer and gained so much personal knowledge as I read and studied about how to CHANGE. Because this is what it takes to achieve new goals and dreams.

    This week’s process works best with your journal. Go back through your notes. What did you try? What worked? What did not? What did you learn? What can you improve?

    What lessons will you keep working on? What goal did not give you the result you were looking for?

    Don’t worry if you do not give yourself high marks? Change is a life long journey. Even when we achieve our dreams, it is time to commit to new ones.

    Make this exercise count. It is the basis for future.

  • Temptations

    We are in the home stretch – ending another year – 2013.

    For many of us, these are difficult last few weeks in the year. The pressure of shopping, entertaining, house cleaning, traveling, visiting, not to mention the agony of getting every gift just right.

    Now is not the time to also give into temptations. The temptation of overindulging in food and drink, and the mistake of overspending our budget.

    Now is the time to step up and just say “NO” to excesses by sticking to achieving our goals, and staying committed to living our dreams.

    Let’s schedule extra time in our calendars to focus on our priorities – creating new habits, improving our physical and financial health, reorganizing our messes, repairing relationships – whatever our goals have been.

    Let’s keep progressing and end the year strong so we can begin anew in 2014 proud of our accomplishments and successes.

  • New habit review

    We began our new habit after the Oct 24th blog, over 40 days ago. How is the progress?

    If you stuck to your plan for at least half of those days you should congratulate your self. Now you may think, I am not giving you much credit but we must realize that change is hard. At least you should have learned whether this is a correct habit for you at this time of your life.

    So even if, for example, getting a new job was your goal but you just learned of a medical condition which requires a treatment plan, perhaps the stability of a routine, a sure paycheck and medical benefits became a more important priority for now.

    This tells us we are not always right the first time around when choosing a goal and also, things come up with may take precedence in life.

    But what can we learn from our 15 or so days of a practicing a new habit:

    -1- we discovered what time of day for our action works best in our schedules.

    -2- we discovered if we have the tools and skills needed to adopt a new habit.

    -3- we discovered if we earned any benefit from adopting this new habit.

    -4- we did take “some” action

    -5- we did not give up after missing some day of action

    -6- only we know if you gave accomplishing the goal our best effort and life got in the way.

    Going forward we must determine if we made the right choice for this new habit. If yes, continue with the plan with a few tweaks, if necessary. If no, choose a new goal and get started.

    You can review the Oct 24th blog post – 8 steps to create a new habit.

  • Priorities

    Life is a busy, complicated assortment of commitments, to-do lists, chores, endless emails, facebook and maintaining relationships and expectations from ourselves, bosses, customers, clients, suppliers, friends and loved ones.

    No wonder we go to bed exhausted, sleep fitfully and wake up un-rested.

    We can become first responders to anything, which comes up in the moment. We stop what we are doing and give this new
    thing our full attention.

    As a personal opinion – this is why the new cell phones are so distracting. Does yours ping every time you get an incoming message? Do you stop whatever you are doing and react?

    Regardless of our present situation, we can make changes to create the lifestyle we desire and deserve. We are on a path to make a big change in our lives as we choose to fulfill a passion or solve a problem. So let’s do all we can to make it happen.

    An important technique we can use is to set our priorities each and every day. As we review our dreams and goals, we must choose the most important task and make it our first priority for the day. A priority that regardless of what else we accomplish at work and at home, we get this one item finished.

    We already have priorities in our life – some of them are our daily habits – our routines, others are chosen for us –work schedule, family commitments and schedules.

    Now we can also choose the priorities we need to achieve our goals.

    To get started:

    1. conscientiously set the priorities – enter it into your schedule
    2. keep them simple – take small, consistent steps
    3. live the priority – tackle the priority with joy and happiness.

    Remember, we are choosing this priority so find the pleasure in doing it.

  • Committing to our new habit

    Why is it so easy to follow a bad habit and yet so difficult to create new good ones?

    I don’t mean our daily habits – such as wake up time, work day start, or walking the dog.

    I mean making the wrong choices – overeating, choosing the wrong food, drinking, watching too much TV, skipping the gym, etc.

    Our commitment and attitude are so important as we strive to improve a part of our lives.

    Reviewing our goal every day is essential. Remember the saying – out of sight, out of mind.

    This is very true in this instance. We must keep reminding ourselves of our goals.

    WHAT do we want to change.
    WHY do we want to make the change.
    WHEN will we achieve our goal.

    If you haven’t written down your goals and placed them in a prominent place, get it done.

    We must keep focused on our goals every day.

    One simple technique I use to create a new habit, I call “just this one time”

    Some say habits take 28 days to become ingrained. But I find. I hit the wall about 21 days and can easily give up.

    So I remind myself of the saying “just this one time”. It then is a time by time choice. I am not thinking about the next 28-30 days but just what choices I make today.

    This is especially true with my food choices. When available, I know I always order the french fries. Once I began saying “just this one time”, it was so much easier than thinking I can not eat fries again.

    Try this approach when you are too tempted to skip a workout, ignore a task, reach for that extra glass of wine or choose the wrong foods.