It’s January, which means the Front is filled with old and new climbers, yoga enthusiasts, and those looking for new hobbies to get them stronger. We love the extra company! And we love hearing your reasons for spending time with us.
Because it’s the beginning of a new year, many reasons surround personal New Year’s resolutions. Hooray for the self-improvement inspiration that a new year always seems to bring!
Unfortunately, fear, self-doubt, burnout, and poor planning can all play a role in us letting our goals fizzle out before they’ve even had a real chance to flourish. But never fear! We stand by our motto: come as you are, we’ll send you home stronger. And we don’t just mean that in a physical sense. Creating and keeping up with resolutions is a long mental game. And we’re here to help you find ways to keep to your goals, make tangible progress, and change yourself for the better.
No matter the goal, it’s essential to ensure it is measurable. After all, if you can’t measure it, who’s to say you’ve met it or when you ever will? If your goal is easy to measure, like taking one Jiu Jitsu class a week, then you’ve got measurability in the bag!
1. Are Your New Year’s Resolutions Measurable?
Other goals might be more challenging to measure but finding a method to keep track of any progress can help you stay on track. Being able to gauge success–the little and big wins–can hold you accountable when pesky burnout or self-doubt comes knocking at the door. Measuring a goal over time means having the chance to look back on successes–and maybe a few failures, but what’s life without them!
2. Are Your New Year’s Resolutions Attainable?
Let’s get real for a second. Are the resolutions you’re setting this new year attainable? It’s great to have lofty goals. The kinds that take years to accomplish. But sometimes, the loftier the plan, the less likely we are to complete it. If you’re tired of falling off the resolution bandwagon a few months into the new year, it might signal your goals are too much right now.
That doesn’t mean they won’t be attainable in the future, but sometimes it’s necessary to parcel those resolutions up. The bigger the goal, the more time it’ll take to make it happen, especially if those goals require a sizable lifestyle change. Setting smaller goals can be a more rewarding experience, ones that help us continue to progress, even when the going gets tough.
Overwhelmed by your goals? Smaller progress benchmarks are great motivators!
3. Is Time a Factor?
Okay, here’s the big question. Is time a factor in your goal setting? If you’re training for a competition, then it’s more likely you want to reach tangible progress before a set point. On the other hand, if your goal is less concrete, like wanting to spend more time on the yoga mat or climb once a week, time itself will play a minor role.
Regardless, all goals need some time frame to back them up. It doesn’t mean you should push yourself past your comfort level, but creating a timeline to hit personal benchmarks should be on your radar. Think about it; you wouldn’t pen in a plan to enter your first climbing competition in a matter of months without the planning required to make that goal a reality. Benchmarks allow you to look at your day-to-day and the complete picture.
Those smaller benchmarks will keep you motivated too! It’s daunting to say, “I’m competing in my first climbing competition,” without a plan to make it happen. It’s much less daunting to say, “By February, I’ll complete my scheduled conditioning program, and by March, I’ll enter my first Citizens Comp at St. Paddy’s Pump.” From there, it’s more accessible to break down those broad goals into smaller ones, like a set training schedule or rest periods.
4. Being Mindful
Being aware of your “inner” state of being, physically, emotionally, and mentally, is something we can all strive to work toward. Unfortunately, it’s not something that comes easily to many of us! When an external event happens, one of those “in-the-moment” moments, are you living in it? Or are you living somewhere before or after it? Without being too on the nose, it’s all about focusing on the current climb, not the route you want to climb tomorrow or the next day.
Mindfulness is something we take seriously here at the Front. We actively work to create community spaces that make it easier to practice mindfulness throughout the day. So, whether you’re using breathe work to recenter in an Ashtanga class or just mindfully eating your favorite sandwich from Rumsy’s, that “in the moment” feeling can become a part of your everyday routine.
5. Focus on the Present
Practicing mindfulness can be a tricky thing. If you notice you’re slipping away from your goals, even the smaller, daily goals, it might be time to focus on the present rather than the bigger picture!
Top Tip: Choose something you can focus on today. It could be making a nutritious dinner tonight, completing a V5 route, or just accepting and taking a rest day. Whatever you choose to focus on, make sure it’s something accomplishable in the now.
6. Remember to Have Fun
So, you’ve set a few goals and resolutions you KNOW you want to stick to. Hopefully, you’ve chosen to pursue ones that make you happy and keep you engaged. If the long-term goal is lofty, you’ve made sure it’s well-thought-out with actionable steps at every corner. Most importantly, the goals you’re working on allow you to have fun! We’re excited to see you reach new heights this year, on and off the wall.
Don’t have a New Year’s resolution just yet? We think trying a new hobby or class at the Front is a great place to start. Check out our class offerings at Ogden, SLC, and South Main, and see what sparks your interest!
By Robin Noble
Marketing Content Creator
Robin is our friendly neighborhood content creator. She’s loves engaging with others through good copy, a shared love of the outdoors, and crying over animals in commercials.
