I RESOLVE TO . . .

I Resolve To® . . . Maintain A Common Sense 'Lifelong' Exercise Program! - Day 243

2010-08-31T09:00:00-04:00

Exercise is one of my top priorities. Exercise also is original purpose for I Resolve To®. . . In 2005 I did a mini one-year case study about my resolution to exercise daily. I created a plan for the year that enabled me to exercise regularly in a variety of ways ranging from swimming to biking and gardening (variety is an important motivator - lots of different kinds of exercise helped to keep me on track with my goals). The first year of my resolution challenge, I exercised 80% of the year. I am proud of that record because it continues today. I try to schedule exercise three to six days each week, always keeping in mind good nutrition for my work outs, proper hydration and regular breaks during stremuous work outs.

I recently have been reviewing some of my early posts on my original blog that hosted my resolution study, acreativelife.com, and was happy to see that I continue to be on track with my stated purpose and mission for I Resolve To®. . It has been fun to review each new approach that I took - approaches that ranged from studying my exercise habits to making gratitude and giving back a priority - and most recently building a photo-resolution tapestry (Daily Resolves) in the I Resolve To®. . . Challenge: 365 Resolutions For Health And Happiness.

Here is where it all began, the early years - excerpt from January 2, 2006:

Like last year, my 2006 resolution is to exercise for at least 30-minutes each day. I succeeded in exercising about 80% of the time and am proud of that record! If I averaged all the hours I actually devoted I'm sure I surpassed the 30-minutes daily goal. I often work in the yard for seven or eight hours at a stretch (then hop in the pool for 30-minutes of laps); and other days I'll exercise for 60-minutes or more biking, weight lifting, playing tennis etc. So 2005 was a good year. That's the wonderful thing about New Year Resolutions. A wonderful feeling of satisfaction comes along with the sweat equity. And in this case, since my resolution was to exercise regularly, I ended the year feeling healthy and toned.

In 2006, I want to expand that effort. This winter my focus is my bike and Total Gym, along with trips to Sport and Health (I joined in the Fall mainly to use the pool until Spring when I open my own pool). I also plan to utilize Sport and Health's classes (especially Yoga), weight machines, and exercise equipment. In April I'll begin to move outdoors again, thank goodness. I do at least 30 minutes of laps each day during the warm months. Along with weekend yardwork, outdoor biking, walking, tennis, stretching/meditation, it's a great, well-rounded program. It gives me a lot of options and keeps me interested. There's no reason to get bored or overwhelmed. It's pretty straighforward because I defined my goal and am constantly working on my exercise plan. Most of the time, if I miss a work out the culprit is work, not lack of motivation to exercise. Can't do much about that, just acknowledge it and plan for the next work out.

I've learned from experience, the key in sticking with a New Year Resolution is to pick a goal that is realistic and is something about which you have great passion. Something that you think about a lot, something that you would really love to achieve. That's half the battle: opening your mind and daring to dream - believing in your dream and your ability to achieve it. Making a long list of 'stuff' that you would like to change about your life is a sure way to set yourself up for failure. You create the list on January 1 and discard it by January 2, becaue it's unrealistic and you're not committed. You end up feeling like a loser because you can't stick with the program.

That's the key: there is no program when you 'draw up a list of stuff' on January One. If you want to achieve any goal, or New Year Resolution, you need a plan and you need to be committed. Consider the following steps - they work for me everytime:

Dare To Dream: Open your mind to the possibility that you will achieve your dream.
Decide: Make a decision that 2006 is the year that you will pursue your dream. Don't procrastinate. Do it today.
Define: Define specifically, in one sentence, what you plan to achieve (a goal that is measurable and can be achieved with specific deadlines in one year).
Develop a Plan: Start by thinking small, one day at a time; eventually your plan can be divided into a weekly, monthly, quarterly timeline with specific tasks, deadlines and measureable results.
Do It Daily: Spend 30-to-60-minutes each day on your goal, for one year - another key to success.

It's not easy, but it will be worth it on December 31, 2006, when you say to yourself: "I did it! I achieved my dream (or moved it many steps closer to becoming a reality, depending on the complexity of your dream). Think about it. Let's 'got for it'!"

With this history in mind, I intend to 'Take Breaks During Strenuous Exercise', as part of my Second Annual I Resolve To . . . Challenge: 365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness. Why not join me? The objective is very simple: Do at least one thing each and every day to promote health and happiness for 'YOU'. Banish the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome'. Instead, make every day New Year's Day. Make every day count with 'daily resolves'. The list of possibilities is infinite and can be tailored to your own dreams, resolutions and daily goals. If you need some help - a little nudge, a bit of inspiration, tips, advice, and news about the best ways to make resolutions a reality - please use IResolveTo.Com as one of your resources. To see my personal 'Health & Happiness Tapestry', click through my 2009-2010 Photo-Resolutions, each one documents my journey toward greater health and happiness! Resolve365 in 2010.

Remember: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year. It's your choice. Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps: Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good! Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey! Let's Go For It!

Need More Inspiration? Wear Your Resolution By Visiting The I Resolve To . . . Shop At CafePress: IResolve To . . . Resolutionista Gear And By Joining The Official I Resolve To . . . Group At Gather.Com. Get going on your 2010 New Year Resolutions with the I Resolve To . . . Worksheet & Promise. View my 2009-2010 Health & Happiness Tapestry by clicking through Daily Resolve Photo-Resolutions.

Kim M. Simpson - August 31, 2010
Copyright © I Resolve To® . . . * All Rights Reserved.

I Resolve To® . . . Resolutionista & Seattle Area Multi-Media Artist & Author, Jan Beaver Coad, Takes The Challenge - July-August Update!

2010-08-29T09:00:00-04:00

"Do you know where your New Year Resolution is?"

That is an often asked question in the days and months that follow the new year. Statistics show that the majority of resolution-makers eventually abandon their pursuits. During the past five years, as I have studied and practiced what works and what doesn't work, I have encountered scores of passionate people who do persist day-after-day. I coined the word 'Resolutionista' for these folks and the 'resolve' they patiently display: Resolutionistas make resolutions, keep resolutions and enjoy the journey! Borrowing on my years as a working journalist, I am running an inspirational series of interviews with ordinary folks who do extraordinary things. They breathe life into their dreams, resolutions and daily goals, one small step at a time, one day at a time over the long haul. Though they may statistically be in the minority of resolution-makers (the ones who succeed), I want to highlight 'what works', and give them credit for their accomplishments!

Resolutionista (rez - o - lution - ista) Noun 1. Someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions and enjoys the journey.

In 2010 several Resolutionistas have agreed to take the I Resolve To . . . Challenge: 365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness. They are building their year-long game plans around their own personal dreams, resolutions, goals, and Daily Resolves. Each month, they will report on their achievements, obstacles and lessons learned - Jan Beaver Coad provides her July August Update!

I met Jan in 2009 during my travels around Gather.Com, a Social Networking Site for the over 30 crowd, and also the home of my Gather I Resolve To . . . Group. Formerly a community college instructor and administrator, she is a delightful creative soul, multi-media artist and author. Jan has Undergraduate Degrees in Respiratory Therapy and a Masters Degree in Community Health Education. She left full-time employment to pursue an art and writing career. She and her children face many obstacles, including Asperger's Syndrome, attention deficits, learning disabilities, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Tourette's Syndrome.

Jan is the author of 'Why Don't They Come With Instructions?', a collection of personal essays about a Mother's journey raising special needs children and how it lead to the creation of a non-profit organization, The Lavender Door Foundation (the book will be available in August of 2010). Jan is currently working on a memoir about the importance of setting goals and following your dreams. She and her husband, children, cat, and dog live in the Seattle, Washington area. [Read Jan's 2009 Year End Essay.]

Kim Simpson: Please provide highlights of your priority goals (you may have one theme with several goals, or goals that vary each month, or some other combination)?

Jan Beaver Coad: I have spent July and August doing exercises to strengthen my knee after surgery and making plans for a book signing tour for my book that will be published very soon. I have been going to the gym one to three days each week since my post-operation stitches removal appointment. I actually have lost about eight pounds and am really enjoying using the elliptical machine and swimming laps or walking in the pool.

I have continued working on marketing plans: arranging blog tours and book signing tour plans and speaking engagements (at the colleges I graduated from and autism support groups for 'WHY DON'T THEY COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS?', StoneGarden.Net Publishing.

I was able to spend time with the camera and post a few more photographic articles about our neighbor family of sea gulls at the marina where we live (that I named Edgar, Allen & Poe).

Kim Simpson: How many days did you successfully achieve at least one small step toward your priority goal(s)?

Jan Beaver Coad: Jan reports steady progress via small steps forward.

Kim Simpson: What were your significant obstacles? How did you overcome the obstacles?

Jan Beaver Coad: I have still been a little troubled by mobility issues - stairs bother my knee, but it is coming along quite nicely. When I worked at the antique mall and hat to go up stairs half a dozen or more times my knee was sore the next few days. Arthritis also has bothered my hands.

Finances have still been tight - we have been putting a great deal of money into our boat to get the teak deck sealed before the rainy season begins, or we will have wet staterooms and soggy beds. :) My husband's job is stressful and he is not happy, so I have to keep the peace and listen to him and try to encourage him as we assess the alternatives.

I continue to overcome my obstacles by taking small steps forward and trying not to allow anxiety, or my health issues, overwhelm me. As long as I focus on the end goal, it keeps me going . . . and the entire family repeats the daily mantra, "Everything is going to be alright!"

Kim Simpson: Were there lessons learned?

Jan Beaver Coad: NEVER give up on your DREAMS. I am thinking about allowing my son to accompany me on my book signing tour and together we can visit as many U.S. wonders of the world as we can (maybe Monticello, Statue of Liberty, some state and national parks, etc. - as I home school him).

Kim Simpson: What is on tap for September?

Jan Beaver Coad: September I will be finalizing plans for speaking and book signings, since publication for my first book 'WHY DON'T THEY COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS' is August. I still need to finish my Seattle Farmers Market book, so it is ready for editing, as it is scheduled for publication next March 2011. I also have to work on the San Francisco Farmers Market book and I am hoping to query some agents, as I hope to find an agent.