5 Things I’m Doing To Reset My 2020 Goals

We all know this year has sucked. It is likely going to continue to suck and maybe even get worse. It’s been easy for me to allow 2020 to hijack almost all of my goals. I’ve been mentally lethargic and drinking more than usual. I’m not focusing my energy on the things I know I can control, like healing nagging injuries. I’ve been pumping my body full of too much junk. The list of what-not-to-dos in which I’ve been indulging to numb the plunge into a dark abyss feels endless. I had a moment last week when all of my emotions about myself, politics and the general state of the world, bubbled over. There were some necessary tears. And while I don’t regret giving myself the space to feel all of the negative feelings and massage whatever salve I had into my metaphorical wounds, I’m done. As I shared with my dear friend, Christina…

I was where I wanted to be. I don’t want to be here anymore.

I have been gifted another day when I get to choose how I react to my world. And so, here are the five things I’m doing to reset my 2020 goals.

1. Heal my body

   I’ve been ignoring my injuries, specifically a hamstring strain that I have been pushing through because… I don’t know. Hubris? I’ve stopped all regular training and have implemented common sense and consistent PT like I should have done from the start. I’ve been in a state of limbo for too long, unable to go all out on anything. If I focus on healing now then I can hopefully get back to the kinds of workouts I really love.

2. Choose Nourishing Fuel

   The good thing about being mostly stuck at home is that time is on my side. There is literally no excuse not to experiment with new recipes or make oodles of old favorites. And while my potato salad is something to get up for, I know better than to rely on that for a meal. My body is screaming for some actual nutrients and it’s time to heed the call. I just ordered one of Pamela Reif’s cookbooks and I am pumped to give her recipes a try. She also has some of my favorite workout videos on YouTube so I’m kind of becoming a super fan.

3. Focus My Mind

   I cannot change what’s happening around me. However I have tools I can use to protect and focus my thoughts. Just this week, I took a strategic thinking course on LinkedIn. One a-ha moment was that it’s only recently that we’ve had the ability to fill every quiet moment with noise. Whether it’s a podcast, the news or TikTok, any down moment can be filled with something besides our thoughts. But it’s those quiet moments when we are able to sit and get deep into our wants, our why’s and how’s. Where do I want to be in three or five years? Who knows? “I don’t have time to think about it.” Turns out I do. I just need to book it on my calendar in ink and make the time to plan.

4. Go from To-Dos to Dones

   LinkedIn Learning is coming through lately. This week I took a quick course on secrets successful people know about time management. It’s good to get a refresher, even if I think I’m ok at time management. One big takeaway for me was that successful people do not work off of to-do lists. Well shit, that’s one of my biggest tools. So what should I do? Turns out, successful people work off of their calendar. They prioritize the things they need to get done by adding the time they need to their schedule. I’ve been using this technique for the last week for everything from work tasks that keep getting pushed aside to keeping myself on track with icing my hamstring strain (see how that ties back to the first item?).

   I also learned about the 3-2-1-0 method for managing email. The idea is to check your email three times a day for 21 minutes to get to zero new emails. So I literally block time on my calendar three times each day to focus on my inbox. This allows me to channel my energy on the other tasks I’ve booked on my calendar without the incessant distraction of new emails. So far, it’s been a good change for me.

5. Take a break from booze

   Alcohol has been a good friend these last several months. We’d get together Wednesdays through Saturdays and relax at a time when I just needed my thoughts to calm down a bit. But it’s time for us to spend a little less time together. I’m setting short targets so that I’m not overwhelmed. For the next three weeks, if I choose to drink it’s just once a week. Saturday is the family’s day to play so it’s now the day that I will look forward to seeing my booze buddy. Without college football season, this should be a piece of cake. (RIP college football)

Let me wrap with one final thought. If reaching for goals right now feels like too much, that is ok.

The way you feel right now is correct.

Only YOU can say what you need or want. The world is heavy. While we could all use a little more grace from each other, the person who most deserves your gentle touch is you. Take care of yourself. xx