Resolutions vs. Goals
- January 2, 2017
- Last Updated: September 18, 2021
- 28 Comments
- Nutrition
Hey there! Happy New Year!! Let’s make 2017 a fun one 🙂
Ed and I got dinner at one of my favorite restaurants for New Year’s Eve. If you’re ever in the Charlotte/Davidson area, you HAVE to eat at Kindred! It’s become one of the hottest, highly regarded restaurants in Charlotte. And you start out with the most delicious milk bread. Every single dish is full of bold flavors and unique pairings.
Farewell 2016
During dinner, we recounted 2016, and all of it’s ups and downs. It’s been full of so many memories, as all years are. I became a Registered Dietitian, I turned 30, we traveled to Vancouver, I ran my first marathon, won a recipe contest, traveled to FNCE aka Disney world for dietitians, met Siggi, bought a house, got a dog and much more.
But there were also hard moments and days too. Sleepless nights, long workdays at two jobs, stress and heartaches, failed recipes, moments where I questioned my confidence. Times I just wanted to stay in bed all day. Not everything is the pretty picture we paint on social media.
But what’s life without a little mess? With the ups come the downs and that’s how we grow!
2017 Goals
Over dinner, we also talked about our goals for 2017 so we can hold each other accountable. In 2017, I want to continue to grow this blog and community. I get emails from readers on a regular basis. It’s humbling and I love it.
I want to continue getting to know readers and hosting giveaways for you guys. Also, I want to continue working one on one with clients, but do more worksite wellness/corporate stuff with larger groups. Give more group talks. Create and run a wellness challenge at our clinic. Continue to help clients reach their health and wellness goals. Run a second marathon in under 3:40. Become more integrated in my local community and partner with other health and fitness professionals.
Goals Vs. Resolutions
These are some of my goals. I prefer to set goals, not resolutions.
Actually, I hate the idea of resolutions. I discussed this last year around the same time. Resolutions sound temporary to me. And they sound restrictive. Like, I’ll give up carbs. Or, I’ll do Whole 30 to “cleanse” my body. Or, I’ll go on a juice cleanse to detox.
Ugh. These phrases hurt my ears.
What I do support, though, is the idea of goals. Goals are different than resolutions because they are something you are constantly working towards. They last more than the typical 2-3 months that resolutions last.
So, here are some ideas that some of my clients have mentioned wanting to focus on this year. And, I’m also on board with many of these too!
- Lights out by 10:00 pm
- Waking up 30 minutes early to write a to do list or journal
- Stretch every night before bed
- Eat 25 grams of protein for breakfast daily
- Smile at the first person I see every morning (Ideally, I’ll smile at all of them!)
- Drink a cup of water before each meal
- Try something new to me each month
- Try 1 new recipe a week
- Eat fish 1-2 times/week
- Join a running group
- Train for a 5k
- Walk every night after dinner
- Unplug for a whole weekend
- Eat two fists of veggies at each meal
As you can see, none of these are related to weight or restriction. Most of them are about adding something in, rather than taking it away.
Goals shouldn’t be about deprivation. They should be about challenging yourself to make yourself better, changing things to increase your knowledge, health or your happiness.
In 2016, my word was balance. I was focused on maintaining balance in all aspects of my life. How did I do? Okay. I was able to balance a lot with multiple jobs, marathon training, blogging, traveling, but I think I failed in some aspects as well. This year, I’m focusing on saying yes more. Getting out of my comfort zone a little bit more. Growing exponentially.
So, you tell me:
What are you looking forward to most in 2017?
Do you set specific monthly goals or do you have a word for the year?
Sarah Schlichter is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition. She specializes in sports nutrition and intuitive eating, and recipe development. She also co-hosts the podcast, Nail Your Nutrition.
28 Comments
Join The Conversation
It’s a brand new year And I really want to make it a special and a healthiest one. Surely, I will include these mouthwatering recipes to my new year resolutions for bettering my spirit and physical health.
I’m trying to read every night before bed! It helps me unwind and also resist the temptation of having my phone in bed!
I like the idea of goals as well-I try to set some for the week or month based on needs-sometimes I do have the same goal for a long period because it is something I want to continue-like stretch each night. I live in Charlotte and have never been to kindred I am going to check out the menu-love new restaurants.!
Love this!! You’ve been through a whole lot of growth ever since I started following you and I can not wait to see where you will go next! Keep slaying girl!!
Love how you write about how important it is to have a goal in mind and not just an arbitrary resolution! Goals make it happen :). I really like your list of goals, especially the smile at the first person you see in the morning. Smiles are a wonderful way to start the day! I also made a list of goals for 2017 and joining a running group is one of them too!
I totally agree with you! I’m a huge supporter of goals, but the whole resolution thing- nope.
These are such doable, straightforward goals. There’s nothing overwhelming about them; I love how you made them simple. I really want to go to bed earlier this year; so far so bad, but we’ll see! 🙂 Unplugging for a whole weekend is a super good idea too. I’m always refreshed when I do unplug.
It definitely takes time – I’m right there with you! I aim for 10 minutes earlier each night 🙂
I think you’d enjoy the book “My Year Of Yes” by Shonda Rhymes. I love that woman!
Sounds like a great read! I”ll have to get my hands on it.
Wow. Reading this not only did you do and accomplish many things in the past year but 2017 is looking like it was going to be just as exciting for you.
The goals your clients made are great ones. All of them are so positive, especially smiling at others and I like the one of trying at least one new recipe a week.
I love my client’s goals and how positive they are! I think encouraging and cultivating a positive environment is so important and helps all of us perform better. You’ll have to let me know what new recipes you try!
I’m not a resolutions fan (or really a particular fan of goals – I’m more self motivated than goal oriented) but these goals all sound perfect. Sometimes a new year is just the push you need to make a change!
So true – sometimes a mental change does the trick!
“Smile at the first person I see every morning (Ideally, I’ll smile at all of them!)”- love that! I want to start doing that too. And stretching before bed! These are great goals. I can’t wait to see what 2017 has to offer for you. You kicked butt in 2016!
Yay! Let’s make 2017 great!
I love the idea of smiling at the first person you see each morning. Sounds like a great goal. 🙂 Sounds like it’s been an awesome year for you–so many achievements! Hope 2017 brings joys and accomplishments, as well. Running a marathon in under 3:40 is no small feat,
I feel like it would put everyone in a good mood to start the day. So important, right?
I like the idea of having a word of the year as well as goals. It’s almost like a yearly mantra! I think my word will be Trust. Trust that things will fall in to place regardless of how it seems in the moment. Life is sometimes messy and we cant predict the future. I need to trust that everything will be okay in the end 🙂
Love that! Having trust in the process is so important.
What a huge year you had!! Wow. So many exciting things. And the fact that you did maintain some balance –> a variety of accomplishments, interests and activities were definitely achieved — in such a busy year is very impressive.
You reminded me of the other reason I don’t really like the word “resolution” vs goal. “Resolution” makes it sound like you did something wrong previously and that you are “resolving” to fix that, whereas goals are simply a striving for something new you want for yourself.
I wonder how you would get 25 grams of protein in at breakfast? Maybe you can slip this into a post one day…
Happy start to 2017 m’dear!
Such a great point about resolutions – it really does sound that way which I don’t like either. And great idea about the 25 grams or protein post – expect that soon!
2016 was year full of accomplishments for you! You totally rocked it. I hope to be close to where you this time next year. I am excited to see where life takes you!
Also, that milk bread is so high on my bucket list!
Thanks, Kate. That means alot. It’s fun to explore everything when you’re done with your internship and take the RD exam – I know you will be the same way!
I usually set goals for the year but this time Im just trying to focus on keeping up with what Ive been doing. I may set short term goals throughout the year. You accomplished alot in 2016 and Im excited to see what unfolds for you this year!
I like short term. I feel like it makes things easier to stay focused on.
Sounds like a great year for you ahead! And what a full and busy year 2016 was for you. This year, I need to do a better job of balancing everything – namely cutting back on some training to focus more on running, getting more rest, and really giving myself the time to recover. I also want to keep saying yes to new adventures and yummy food! Haha.
It makes such a difference to give yourself time to recover! I think we all learn that the hard way 🙂