Rethinking New Year’s Goals and Resolutions, part 2.

Summary

The author reflects on their experience with a new approach to New Year's resolutions, focusing on process-oriented goals and adapting to setbacks like illness, and prepares for a bicycle event with a revised ten-week plan.

Abstract

In a follow-up to their initial decision in November to forgo traditional New Year's resolutions, the author describes their journey of setting and working towards specific, achievable goals related to health and wellness. These goals included weight loss, improved sleep and fitness scores, daily meditation, and regular exercise. Despite facing a cold and sinus infection that disrupted their progress, the author adapted their plan, focusing on what could be done and learning the importance of process over immediate outcomes. They found that small successes contributed to the momentum needed for larger goals. Now, the author is in the midst of a new ten-week cycle aimed at preparing for a bicycle event in Sebring, Florida, incorporating insights from their previous cycle and paying closer attention to recovery and sleep metrics from their Whoop device. The author has also transitioned to using Google Docs for better tracking and visual appeal, with copies of their plan posted around their home to stay motivated.

Opinions

The author is pleased with the inclusion of "The Way to Achieve These" section in their initial plan, indicating its importance in guiding their efforts.
They express a positive view on the flexibility of their goal-setting system, particularly how it allowed them to adapt when they became ill.
The author values the process of working towards goals rather than fixating on the outcomes, believing that the latter will naturally follow.
They have a pragmatic approach to health metrics, acknowledging that whether or not they are entirely accurate, they use them as a guide to listen to their body.
The author recognizes the psychological impact of the metrics provided by their Whoop device and has learned to adjust their efforts accordingly.
There is an appreciation for the visual and organizational improvements made by using Google Docs to track their progress.

Rethinking New Year’s Goals and Resolutions, part 2.

Back in November I decided to embark on an idea where instead of coming up with some New Year’s resolutions, I would instead use a block of time to work towards a few goals I wanted to achieve. The article can be found here https://readmedium.com/rethinking-new-years-goals-and-resolutions-ed5223fddb48

I targeted the areas of weight loss, a higher average sleep score, daily meditation, an increased fitness score, and exercise. It was a well considered, realistically achievable and a solid guide. I was particulary pleased with “The Way to Achieve These” section I included.

That is until I became ill with a cold complicated by a tenacious sinus infection. I did the parts of the plan I could and as difficult as it was, let go the parts I could not do or knew well enough that I should skip them. It slowed my progress for two weeks.

I did manage to complete some of what I set out to do and did not make others. What I did learn for myself is this type of system works better for me. It helped me to focus on the process and not on the outcome. The outcome will follow, you have to let it happen; something that I’ve had to learn and then re-learn. What I found is that having small successes helped make the steps on the path to achieving the larger, long term ones.

I’ve made a new ten week cycle in preparation for a bicycle event in Sebring, Florida in March. A couple of items such as weight loss and daily meditation have been carried over from the previous version. I am also paying a little more attention to the scores from my Whoop device such a having better recoveries on 4 out 7 days and an 80% sleep score. I can’t say for certain if it’s truly accurate or if some of the metrics affect me psychologically all I can say is when it shows a recovery in the red, even if I feel good, then I ought to take it easy for that day. When I have not listened to it, I paid dearly for trying. It also has helped me become a better listener to my body so that I can determine when I need to push harder or back off based on how I’m feeling. I continue to make some progress in containing myself during the Zone 2 effort rides, another opportunity for improvement. Sometimes you’re just ready to go.

My other change is having the document in Google Docs. I can make modifications as needed without having to rewrite the page on a legal pad, and I can add a few flourishes in the document such as colors and other things to make it more visually appealing. Granted it is quite basic but it serves its purpose and I have several copies posted in strategic places in my home such as on the refrigerator.

Now it’s time to get to it. Those miles can’t ride themselves.