New Year Resolutions
I have always made one or two resolutions for the upcoming year, and this year will be no exception. My husband says if he doesn’t make any, he doesn’t risk failing to keep them, but I think there is a way to make those resolutions using the SMART goals method to ensure you don’t need to fear failure. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time-sensitive.
With a disease as unpredictable as IBM, it is hard to make resolutions covering 12 months. I tend to stick with quarterly ones. I commit to two for the first quarter and agree to create new ones when I see where my abilities and desires are at the quarter’s end. I then do it for quarters three and four. Small goals may seem too easy for something as important as a New Year’s resolution, but forget that idea. Making them at all shows bravery and commitment to staying in the game.
These are my resolutions for the first quarter of 2025.
I will log my exercise journal entries for exercises. I do online exercise classes and a self-designed routine at home at least five days a week, which includes walking and swimming. I need to keep my muscle strength as long as possible and care for my cardiovascular health. Swimming is also an opportunity for me to spend time with my eldest daughter and my husband and help motivate them to exercise, too.
I will engage each of my granddaughters via telephone or video call at least once during the quarter. Often, when I reach out to my granddaughters, I’m shocked at how much time has passed since the last time. I’m sure neither of us means for that to happen. I want to start making sure that the distance between calls does not grow too large, so I’ll put it right on my calendar to call them. Never mind that their lives are interesting, and I want to know what’s up with them.
I will continue to listen to my cardiologist and do what they recommend. As I probably mentioned in my blog post about my latest TIA, I was not following my medication regimen precisely as advised. I bruise easily and hate that, so I changed the frequency with which I took my blood thinners. Uncool. So, I have vowed to my doctor, my family, and myself to do as I am told. Let’s face it: TIAs are serious, so I must take them seriously.
I will make new resolutions by March 15th for the year's second quarter. Rather than come upon the year's second quarter and realize I’ve not updated my resolutions, I’ll put it on my calendar to get it done in advance. It’s late enough in the first quarter that I’ll have a good idea of where I’m at physically, mentally, and emotionally, but not so far that I don’t have a bit of time to come up with smart goals.
Try to have one of these first quarter goals be a continuation of something you are now doing and know you can achieve with some discipline. It’s a gimme - a goal you know you can achieve to put you in an achieving headspace.
My daughter Sherri wants to tell you about a great book she read earlier this year: All It Takes Is a Goal by Jon Acuff. She’s never been good at long-term goals (though excellent at short-term ones), and this book was helpful. I read Atomic Habits by James Clear this year, and you wouldn’t believe how many post-its are still on the pages to remind me of the parts that helped me most. Great book!
Both of these books focus on ACTIONS you’ll take rather than outcomes you’ll experience. We have much more control over actions than outcomes, even though one derives from the other.
What will you set for your first quarter New Year’s Goals this year? If you feel like sharing, let us know in the comments. Talk to you soon!
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
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This blog post is based on personal experiences and is not meant to provide medical advice.
Always consult your healthcare professional for personalized guidance on your health journey.
