We interrupt this time-tracking challenge week because…it’s Tuesday! Which means it’s time for another podcast discussion thread. I’m late posting this one because our school opening was delayed for 2 hours, which meant there were people underfoot and such, and I shifted the day around some.
Anyway, this week’s episode was about our goals for 2017 and 2018. What worked? What didn’t? What’s in store for the next year? How do we go about setting goals? We discussed some of this in our episode with Gretchen Rubin (which you should listen to if you haven’t!) but hey, we like our goals. So why not two podcasts on the topic?
I’d love to hear people’s goals, but I think it also might be a fruitful discussion topic to talk about what didn’t work in 2017. I often set intentions to do strength work…and then I don’t. I kind of want to for 2018 but my new kettle ball and resistance band (which Santa brought me!) are just sitting in my office. They are in plain sight. And they are unused. Why is this? I know it’s important — especially as I get older — to do strength training. Also, it would probably make me a better runner. But I don’t do it. Maybe I need to figure out a good routine and a good cue. Or something I’d really enjoy doing. I welcome suggestions.
Sarah noted that she wanted to meditate in 2017. Then she got pregnant and very very nauseated. And the only thing she could think of in her meditation time was how sick she felt. So that was that. She’s getting back into it in 2018.
What didn’t work for you in 2017?
You could give the videos of Fitness Blender a try. I really enjoy them and that’s saying a lot, as I don’t really like to exercise but see it as a must. I have been following them for quite some time and I’ve even started liking the exercises! Just search for resistance band and kettlebell, and you’ll probably find some short videos. Good luck!
@Kim – I will check it out. I think, yes, the problem is I don’t know what to do with said kettle bell. So there it sits…
I just finished this one and though it was tough, I really enjoyed it: https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/non-stop-endurance-kettlebell-workout-33-minute-total-body-kettlebell-routine
I am committed to be at least 2-weeks in front of all deadlines. What did not work was the stress and all nighters to come up with a good product. I was in a haze and could not fully enjoy the accomplishment as I was then too tired to think.
@star- staying in front of deadlines is a great goal. Especially in winter when things can come up with snow days, illnesses, etc., being ahead of deadlines means there is margin for when things go wrong.
What worked in 2017: reading at least a book a week (I read 67 total—highest by far since having kids! Probably because my youngest is now 3), setting limits on screen time for my kids, doing at least one interval running workout per week (as opposed to only distance running)
What didn’t work: going on a Kids-free vacation with my husband (going back on the list for 2018 goals!), doing regular journaling, reducing my grocery bill
@Emily – congrats on reading 67 books! Yep, getting past the magical age of 2 is probably part of that. Leisure time starts to open up.
Here’s to revisiting the goals!
If you’d like to incorporate some strength training into your workouts, you could look into OrangeTheory, if it’s in your area. It’s an hour-long class that’s about half treadmill work, half weights with some rowing mixed in.
I second the idea of trying a class. Like you, Laura, I like to run and have trouble making myself do strength work. I joined ClassPass and tried a bunch of different studios and classes near to me (you could do something similar with gyms, since a lot of them give out free passes this time of year). Ultimately I found a class I liked because it turns out, I don’t want to research a strength training routine and build it for myself; I just want to show up and be told what to do, so I can get back to running. I’ve been going 3 times a week since October which is the most consistent I’ve ever been.
What worked for me in 2017: 1) setting quarterly/seasonal goals and 2) hiring a designer to see us through a total kitchen remodel.
What didn’t work for me: 1) exercising over lunch–I just couldn’t create the space in the workday for this and realized I really prefer to workout first thing in the morning; 2) taking Facebook “breaks.” I think I need to either completely leave Facebook or just accept it as part of my life. The intermittent hiatus just doesn’t work for me.
My goals in the first quarter of 2018 are to: 1) put my phone away when I get home from work; 2) experiment with the Pomodoro method; and 3) complete the manuscript I am co-authoring with a colleague (due to our editors June 30!).
@Robin- it’s good to know if lunch just doesn’t work. It often doesn’t. Stuff comes up and most people aren’t going to tell their bosses “hey, can’t make that 1 p.m. meeting – I might be in step class!” Mornings are less likely to be taken away from you. So even if one might prefer to work out over lunch, the predictability of mornings have a lot going for them.
Facebook…ah. Yes, it can suck you in for a lot more than a reasonable “break.”
In my situation, the big challenge with working out at lunch was that I can’t seem to stem the tide of last minute appointments with students (I’m a librarian at a university). If I did manage to get to a class or the gym over lunch, I spent half the time worrying about making it back to my office or the reference desk. It’s the nature of my job or organization, but I think this year I’m going to try and accept that and carve out better times.