It’s that time of year when most of us give at least a passing nod to setting some NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS or GOALS for 2022. But how can you actually achieve them? Here are my TOP TIPS for helping you to achieve those goals and making 2022 YOUR year!

Write them down – they become more REAL

• It might be in a nice journal or on the back of the Rice Crispy packet but writing it down is PROVEN to be a key to success. Keep it handy or stick it on the fridge – a daily reminder will help you stay on track. If you have signed up for our ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE then we have written then down for you and can help you achieve them with our experience, advice and motivation.

• Have a timeline in mind and make those goals SMART*

MAKE YOUR GOALS SMART

Setting SMART goals means you can clarify your ideas, focus your efforts, use your time and resources productively, and increase your chances of achieving what you want in life.

SMART is an acronym that you can use to guide your goal setting.

To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each one should be:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time bound

1. Specific

Your goal should be clear and specific, otherwise you won’t be able to focus your efforts or feel truly motivated to achieve it. So in our ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE

group a number of participants said they wanted “walk more”. Which is a great start but you can make that SPECIFIC by saying I will increase my number of walks from 1 per week to 2 per week or from 6 per month to 8 per month.

2. Measurable

It’s important to have measurable goals, so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. Assessing progress helps you to stay focused, meet your deadlines, and feel the excitement of getting closer to achieving your goal. So if you goal is to “get fitter” how will you measure that progress? It could be that you can continuously walk up a hill that you used to have to stop on. Or you maybe you can walk at the front of the group rather than the back?

3. Achievable

Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable to be successful. In other words, it should stretch your abilities but still remain possible. So one of my goals this year is to climb Helvellyn via the edges. I know its achievable because I have experience in the mountains and have climbed similar before. But I would need to work on my hill fitness and balance to negotiate those edges comfortably.

4. Relevant

This step is about ensuring that your goal matters to YOU, and that it also aligns with other relevant goals. We all need support and assistance in achieving our goals, but it’s important to retain control over them. So for example, one of my longer term goals is to become a mountain leader but right now I don’t have the time to commit to that because of family circumstances and acknowledging the impact it would have on other people. So for 2022 is isn’t on the list – but every goal I have set for 2022 is a step towards it.

5. Time-bound

Every goal needs a target date, so that you have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward. This part of the SMART goal criteria helps to prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over your longer-term goals. If you have signed up for the ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE then I have suggested you try to complete by the end of September. That’s 1 goal per month and then an extra somewhere. But if you need 12 months or even 24 months then as long as you make those goals SMART they you are a winner!

So whether you have signed up for our a ANNIVERSARY CHALLENGE or not, make a resolution to set one GOAL for this year and make it SMART!

Tracy Reeve

Lead Instructor and Business Owner

NORDIC WALKING WATFORD