Resolutions

New Year, New Resolutions

Happy New Year and a big ole good riddance to 2020. 2021 has to be better….right? A new year is the time to create a new you, at least according to the infomercials, so its time to get going on the resolutions!

If you are like me it is January 2nd and you have already broken the resolutions you pretended to make. If I was supposed to drink more water and less Dr. Pepper then water should taste better! If potato chips should not be part of my diet, well they probably shouldn’t but they are such a good snack!

So there it is 2 resolutions already broken. That is why I don’t really make resolutions any more. They are almost too tempting to break if you speak them into existence. I can tell myself to lose 30 pounds. More likely the stubborn part of me is going to say “Hey, You can’t tell me what to do!” and will immediately order a pizza.

S.M.A.R.T Goals instead of Resolutions?

I prefer to set goals. Not those S.M.A.R.T. goals that some HR consultant talks about around review time each year at work.

S pecific – Vague goals are better to start the year. In 2020 I thought that I wanted to get some more exercise. I didn’t even know I liked hiking until March. If I would have been specific and said “Go to the gym 5 days a week” I would have missed out on all that time on trail and quit the gym.

M easurable – Measurable is ok but only if you are vague. If I would have told myself to hike 100 miles then there is no way I would have found myself on a trail on December 31st because I was at 599 miles and needed 1 more mile. I finished with 602 miles for the year!

A ttainable – These are goals for non dreamers. It continues to be my goal to marry an independently wealthy supermodel. It is questionable if this is attainable but it is still a very real goal.

R elevant – I guess this makes sense. If your goal is for a guy named Zach in Illinois to do 10 push ups this year it really is only relevant if you are Zach in Illinois. Also, Zach make it 20 you slacker!

T ime bound – This is another one of those HR bingo words. Time bound is OK for the smaller goals. I want to finish this trail before it gets dark and the mountain lions start hunting is a solid time bound goal. Losing 10 pounds in 10 weeks might be a good goal but if you don’t make it the odds are you are going to just quit and blow any progress you made.

Introducing D.U.M.B Goals

D o something – Get off your lazy butt and do something.

U h-oh – It’s March and you haven’t started or you tried something and it didn’t work. “I tried to quit smoking cold turkey and failed.” Uh-Oh maybe try the patch!

M ore – Have you made it past Do Something and Uh-oh? Amazing! Now Do More. Its easy to stop once you start so make sure to remind yourself to Do More on occasion.

B enefits – If you follow these steps and Do Something, adjust doing it when you had your Uh-Oh moment, and then you Do More of it, then you will get benefits. Plus, who really wants to put in all the work for no benefit?

How it Works

When you leave the goals vague enough it gives you flexibility. If my goal to Do Something is trying to dunk a basketball it probably isn’t going to work. I can start with that as a goal but when I realize I am 5’5″ and 41 years old I can come to my Uh-Oh moment and pivot.

Now I can change my goal to learn how to hike. Well that is much better for my physical abilities. Now I can Do More of that and eventually will get the Benefits of it.

Why it Works

Probably doesn’t, I just made this up because I failed my resolutions on the second freaking day this year.

My “Goals”

So I guess my extremely vague goals from this year will be this. Stay Active (D.U.M.B. approved), because my doctor reads now….Lower my Cholesterol (D.U.M.B. approved), Hike (D.U.M.B. approved), and finally Win Lottery/Marry Independently Wealthy Supermodel (97% likely).

So my goals are either 97% likely to happen or fall into the D.U.M.B. goal principle. I need to stay active and I would like to do so by hiking. But my life could change which would make that difficult and I might need to start swimming instead.

Hey remember the pandemic? How many S.M.A.R.T. goals did that throw a wrench in. With my new system you should be able to have the flexibility to make 2021 a great year. If it isn’t going your way, maybe its time to pivot to a new goal. If you are making good progress, Do More!

You are as great as you want to be when it comes to you. If walking to the mailbox is a goal then be as great as you want to be. If you want to run a marathon same deal. Don’t worry if you have a bad day, just give it another try the next one.

One year from now you will be everything you hope to be, and I will be a married man who hikes!

Disclaimer: I am not an HR professional nor qualified in anyway. Just a fat guy who hikes. It takes a long time because I’m fat so I have plenty of time to think. If you like this post, make sure you check out my “Thoughts” page for more.

If you have any suggestions or comments fell free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com. You can also follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!