New Year New Hopes

Like many people I use the end of the year to reflect back on the year that was, and the start of the new year to look ahead at the year to come. Also, like many people I take time to think about what I hope to accomplish in the coming year. Many people refer to this as "new years resolutions." I like to think of it as goal setting. I just find setting goals more concrete, tangible if you will. Goal setting is taking a resolution one step closer to becoming reality. For example, many people resolve to make changes in their diet and exercise habits. Students might resolve to improving their grades, or spending less time on the computer. The problem that I see with resolutions is that people are often excited and motivated at first, but then, for a variety of reasons, loose interest or focus as the year moves further and further away from January 1st. Goal setting on the other hand is not limited to the beginning of the year, nor should it be. Goals need to be set in the mind first (the resolution part), then written down on paper, and finally put into action. Once in action, they need to be evaluated and modified as you progress toward the end result. What worked? What didn't work? What did I like or dislike? What can I do differently? Also, goals help you take the resolution you make and break it down into smaller more attainable parts. Seeing little improvements can help serve as your motivator to keep to your goal.

Let's look at some tips to consider when setting goals:

• Be specific. For example, saying I want to do better in class, eat better, or improve my mile run time is not enough. Specific goals would be improving my grade in class from a "B" to an "A," limiting myself to one soft drink a day, and improving my mile time from 8:30 to a 7:30 minute mile.
  
• Be realistic. The goals you set should be challenging, but must be within your reach as well. Take the same examples, if you hope to improve your grade from a "B" to an "A", don't expect it to happen in the last week of the semester. It's going to take time. You need to be aware of your grades on a regular basis and communicate with your teacher on what assignments you might be able to turn in late, redo, or what extra credit opportunities are available. When it comes to diet, setting a goal of eliminating all sugar might be too difficult. Likewise, a goal of improving your mile from an 8:30 to a sub 6:00 minute mile might be unrealistic considering your genetics.


• Be measurable. If your goal is specific it's more likely to be measurable. The time frame in which you seek to accomplish the goal must also be considered as I described in the example above. Maybe the "A" or sub 6 minute mile is obtainable by the end of the school year.

It's also important to consider the following different types of goals:

1. Process goals. These are the little goals or the steps along the way that will lead you to your ultimate goal. For example, some steps to improve your grade might include not missing any more class, paying attention in class, understanding the expectations for assignments, and completing the assignment on time.
   
2. Short term goals cover 1-2 months. They help you achieve mid to long-term goals by checking in on your process goals.
   
3. Mid term goals cover 3 months – a year. Focusing on your semester grades, perfect attendance, no referrals, fitness scores, and sports season achievements are examples of what would fit into mid term goals.


4. Long term goals cover 1-4 years. With long term goals you should be thinking about what kind of legacy you want to leave at RHS or how do you want your RHS career to be remembered? (Examples: graduate with honors, four year letter in the sport(s) you play, earn entrance to the college of your choice).

Some final thoughts. The idea behind setting goals is to think of the end result first, then put behaviors into action to accomplish them! What a great feeling it is to set your sights on something and make the sacrifices to achieve it! Remember, the best things in life come with a price!

Have an accomplished 2009!

Yours in Strength,

Coach Katinas