Set It & Get It!

The importance of setting goals is not lost on us however, the follow through may not always go as planned.

I am a list maker. 

If I don’t have a daily list of items, my “daily goals” – I’m lost. I feel like I don’t know where to start. A haphazard list in my head seems far more daunting and overwhelming. I spend more time panicking over not having enough time to complete it all rather than tackling what needs to be done. The list gets bigger and bigger, the stress gets more intense and my anxiety skyrockets. My body shuts down. The only obvious solution is to sit on the couch and stuff my face with junk food hoping it’ll magically make my list smaller.

Sound familiar?

That’s why I’m a list maker. 

Personally, I like to prioritize my list in order of importance or by the items I’m least looking forward to doing. I always feel so much better once the things I’m dreading the most are out of the way. The rest of the tasks seem so much easier! I love the satisfaction of knowing I accomplished something at the end of the day. There’s something about physically crossing items off a list that fuels me, gives me momentum and increases my productivity.

In a world of technology, I’d be lost without my paper planner.

I make a list for my groceries. I make a list for my weekly menu. I make a list for my daily workouts. I have a list of daily tasks, weekly tasks and monthly tasks. This might seem like overkill, but it keeps me on track and organized. These lists form the foundation, serve as the catalysts and provide structure to my goals.

I mean, if that didn’t work, then nothing will, right? Wrong.

You likely aren’t saying in your professional career – “I want to be CEO next month” or “I’m want to be a millionaire in 6 months”

Why?

Because we are very aware of the effort, sacrifices, dedication and path required to embark on those goals. We set realistic and appropriate goals and build on those. We recruit mentors, receive additional education and seek advice and assistance from other professionals along the way.

Setting goals doesn’t come without trade-offs. 

This is true for goals of any kind. Saying “yes” to something means saying “no” to something else.

Saying “yes” to a promotion at work may mean saying “no” to some free time. Saying “yes” to a workout may mean saying “no” to 30 minutes with your family. Recognizing these trade-offs allows you to set realistic goals based on your lifestyle. Saying “no” to a bag of chips might mean saying “yes” to some veggies.

I have some trigger foods that I sometimes frustratingly think I can white-knuckle-will-power my way around. I fail. Every. Single. Time. These foods have become my trade-offs. When I eat them, I know I’m taking one step away from my goal.

Sometimes I’m ok with that because…balance.

Most of the time, that awareness leads me to a better selection.

I became addicted to peanut butter when I used to work in an office setting. This was prior to my ability to clearly recognize trade-offs in relation to goals. What originally started out as a snack option quickly became problematic. It was my go-to comfort food before deadlines. I ate it by the spoonful before public speaking to soothe my nerves. I eventually recognized this destructive behavior, so I taped a picture of a fitness model on top of the jar. When I would go to reach for it in my drawer, I’d see the picture and think “did she get that body by mindlessly eating peanut butter?” “Not likely.”

This was a completely torturous method and I do not condone that way of thinking, but it was the only way I knew how to break the habit. Aside from removing the food. Because that would’ve been too easy.

It was my early method of recognizing that saying “yes” to fitting into my work pants meant saying “no” to a jar of peanut butter.

I’m human. I continue to have my moments. One time I bought a box of Oreos because I was having company and it was their favorite snack so I was being a good host, right? I live 3 minutes away from the grocery store and before I was half way home, I had broken into the box and eaten almost an entire sleeve – in less than 2 minutes! In some divine sugar-fueled intervention, I snapped out of whatever form of self-destruction I was in and in an overly dramatic method, I proceeded to dump the remaining Oreos out of the box, from the window of my moving car. I’ll admit, that was a little over the top. I could’ve stopped eating and waited 90 seconds until I got home and dispose of them, but the lack of self-control sent me into a “save yourself!!” fight or flight response. Saying “no” to Oreos, meant saying “yes” to me and my well-being and “no” to being a good host.

There’s more stories like that but I’ll save them for another time.

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