Can you believe it’s Thursday already?  AND December?  Jeepers!  Before you know it we will be saying goodbye to another year and welcoming in a brand new one!

As the year winds down we tend to reflect on all that has happened in our lives over the past year and we may even start to make commitments in our minds about things we are going to change in this upcoming year.

For some people it is a tad early to start thinking about “resolutions” or as I prefer to call them “goals” but I am certainly someone who likes to think ahead.  In my opinion, thinking ahead and being prepared is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) keys to success, regardless of what your task or goal is.

The month of December is a time for me personally to reflect on what I would like to accomplish in the upcoming year, whether that be in my fitness life, food life, financial life, relationship life, blog life and so on.

I also find this month FLIES by because of the holidays and before I know it, January 1 is here and it feels like I am not mentally or emotionally prepared to take the proper steps toward accomplishing my goals, therefore causing me not to kick the year off as inspired as I would have liked to.

So today I thought I would share this concept with you in hopes of getting you to start thinking about what YOU would like to accomplish in 2012.

Here’s what I do!

I sit down in a relaxing and thought provoking environment (which for me is the Second Cup coffee shop which isn’t too far from where we live), a soothing beverage (which for me is now a soy milk steamer, flavour is dependant on my mood of course), a pen and piece of paper.

As a sidenote, taking time to sit down and reflect on yourself and your life if a fantastic mental and emotional cleanse!

On that piece of paper I mark down the key areas in my life (for instance and in no particular order: Fitness, Health, Marriage, Finances, Blog) and within each of those categories I mark down goals I would like to work toward accomplishing.  Some goals may come easy and some may not.  Don’t panic if you leave your “relaxing and thought provoking environment” with only categories listed and no goals.  You’ve gotten the ball rolling on THINKING about what you want to accomplish within those categories of your life!  Write them down as they come to you!

EXAMPLE HEALTH “GOAL”:

-Incorporate more fruits, vegetables and whole grains into your diet.

Once you have come up with some goals you think you’d like to work on, throughout the rest of December you can take that list you initially created and add the HOW AM I GOING TO GET THERE portion.  Again, this is not as easy as I make it sound and it may take time but you will get there if you put in the time and effort!

EXAMPLE “HOW AM I GOING TO GET THERE”:

-Experiment with making fruit smoothies for breakfast (add spinach if you are feeling extra saucy )

-Pack a side salad to go with your lunch for added veg or have pre-washed and cut vegetables and fruits available for convenient snacking when you are hit with the mid afternoon grumbles!

-Next time you are at the grocery store, buy one WHOLE GRAIN item that you usually buy the WHITE version of.  For instance bread or pasta!

*Note: Having a picky eater as a husband has taught me that some people take a longer period of time to get used to the  whole grain movement and that is perfectly ok!  The fact that you are taking the step is very positive!!!

By the time January 1^st comes around and your clean slate has been delivered to you, you will be well on your way to being mentally and emotionally prepared to take on whatever life may try to throw at you to get you off track!

So there you have it!  I hope I’ve inspired you to, even though the holidays are upon us, take a moment (or an entire month like me!) to document what you want to see yourself accomplish in the fast approaching year 2012.  Writing it down and/or sharing it with someone is also a great way to keep you accountable!

Have an awesome end to the week!!!

Tags: Healthy Living