Wellness: Goals for 2013

After a moderate amount of thought about the word resolution, I’ve decided that I prefer the term goal to talk about what I want to accomplish here. I think that’s more appropriate for me because it’s action oriented and not necessarily dependent on a new year beginning. I’ll be posting a short series on what my new goals are and how I’m going to implement them this is the first of the series about wellness.

a chalkboard with 2013 Goals written on it

After a moderate amount of thought about the word resolution, I’ve decided that I prefer the term goal to talk about what I want to accomplish here. I think that’s more appropriate for me because it’s action oriented and not necessarily dependent on a new year beginning. I’ll be posting a short series on what my new goals are and how I’m going to implement them.

Wellness

After a few small flings with running, going to the gym, and yoga last year, my overall feeling about my personal wellness is mediocre. With that in mind I want to have a better schedule about what I’m doing with my time. I know I’m busy with work and don’t always want to exercise in the evening after I leave the office. I’ve also been fairly terrible at getting up early because I stay awake later than I should and then I don’t want to get up because I haven’t slept enough.

Getting to one of my first action items, I want to get up between 7 and 7:30 AM so that I’ve got time for a run or yoga or the gym. Then I don’t feel pressure to work out after the day is over but if I feel like I need to squeeze in something else then I’ve got the option open. Part of this will be dropping 20-30 pounds this year so that I’m feeling better about what I look like (and also to save myself from buying bigger clothes, saving money!) I’d also like to do more yoga which will help me with my mindfulness and emotional wellbeing goals.

Next up, I want to run at least 150 miles this year. This is very attainable since it’s less than 3 miles per week which I can knock out in less than 45 minutes each week. Another running related goal is to bring my average time per mile down to less 10 minutes. Which means I’d like to run the Shamrock 8k at about 50 minutes (which reminds me to register for the Shamrock 8k!).

Part of both of the previous paragraphs have to deal with some kind of exercise, I’ve got a couple of new apps to help me with my goals and tracking what I’m doing. I joined Fitocracy yesterday to add some fun to my fitness tracking. I also downloaded the Gorilla Workout app for my iPhone and iPad to help with some calisthenic exercises for when I’m away from the gym or need to do something quick.

On to what I’m eating and drinking (which may conflict a little with one of my other goals…). I’d like to eat more balanced during from here on out. Less soda, more water. Staying hydrated is important to the rest of my wellness goals. Since I moved into a new apartment on campus, I’ve been a lot closer to the dining hall and which means that junk food has been more available to me (such as french fries and lots of dessert). So it’s time to resist those foods and eat more vegetables and non-fried stuff.

In addition to physical wellness, I’m going to work on my emotional wellbeing. To do this I’m going to think more about what I have control over and relieve my emotional investment in things I can’t change. Because if I can’t influence what’s happening then I need to think more about what I’m going to do in response rather than getting upset about what’s already done. I’d also like to journal more in order to help me think about what I’m doing and how it’s related to what my more long term goals are and to make sure I’m making meaning of my experiences.

That’s what I’ve got thought up for my wellness goals. Do any of these resonate with you? Are you doing anything similar for 2013?

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