Ordinary Lass Blog

We’re three weeks into the new year and part way through our New Year’s goals. Are you sticking to yours? Maybe you’re sticking to them sometimes or maybe you’ve simply given up and quit altogether?

I’m curious about the impact of our ambitions and the amount of discipline they take to achieve. How motivated do we need to be to make change actually stick? Is it simply consistency of small habits built over time or do some people have an innate ability to drive change?

Although, I’m not dieting as such, I have made an effort to batch cook more fresh meals since the start of the new year. I don’t know about you but my cooking style is sort of like ‘I get by’. I’m competent enough to make sure little lass has mainly good nutrition (she eats better than me!) but in the evenings, between mothering, housework and school work, I admit that I don’t prioritise my own nutrition; I might leave it too late to cook and too often end up eating something quick and beige out of convenience. Batch cooking has helped me to be more organised and manage my time better. I’m yet to get more adventurous with the meals but we all need to start somewhere… right?

Temptation

The social aspect of attending events can add pressure to the private goals we set ourselves. Imagine you’ve been offered alcohol when you’ve committed to Dry January or you’ve been invited out for a meal but you’re trying to stick to a weight loss plan, then the “no thanks” can feel hard or like you need to justify yourself.  

So, if you’re someone who has abstained in any way so far in January – give yourself a fucking high five; it’s not easy to fend off questions or judgements about your choices. It takes consistency and self-control and you should be proud of yourself. I’m not judging you, if you had a tipple or two in your Dry January stint; I probably would’ve have a drink with you!

Commit to Consistency

In years gone by, I would’ve berated myself for eating something not ‘on plan’ and end up ‘giving up’ altogether. I’d hear internal, unkind thoughts of failure for not being 100% dedicated to the new healthier me. At another point, I’d be back in the cycle of dieting, usually Spring time summer season for when we’ve got a bit more skin on show. I was fad dieter with temporary habits. More often than not, just feeling like I wasn’t I where I wanted to be. Although, I’m not sure where I thought I should be.

When I look back at photos, I remember feeling fat at the time but the 39 year old me is now secretly wishing I looked like I did then… hmmm, who knew?

Before I started writing this post, I asked my followers to vote about their own journey and goals. Like you, my social media feed feels like a constant bubble of perfection that us mere mortals can’t live up to so it was refreshing to read that the majority of you said that you’ve been 80% committed to your goals so far. Honestly, it’s spurred me on to keep showing up consistently with my writing goals and healthier freshly cooked meals. I like knowing that I’m not alone as an 80% person and rather than focusing on the small things that I haven’t done, instead I’ve shifted my mindset to actually believe that 80% is still pretty damn good.

Not one to study the Maths, I realise that 80% over time consistently is better than me giving 100% for a small temporary burst, then quitting; it would only prevent my overall progress towards that goal. My self-discipline was worse when I held the belief that it was all or nothing. For me, I’m simply going for consistency to see progress over time.

So if you’re joining me in the 80% club then I see you; as long as we take steps towards our goals most of the time then we’re heading in the right direction. Besides, the only opinion that matters when it comes to personal goals is our own.

Promises to Ourselves

I’ve struggled with goals in the past. Accepting my life as a single Mum, as a provider, teacher, daughter, sister, a friend. I often wonder how am I supposed to find time for me?

I’ve realised that juggling multiple priorities, as many of us do, I will inevitably let someone down. As teachers, we tend to begin new things at the start of a new term whether it’s the start of new year or new term, its ideal time to make new habits.

I don’t want to be the person who lets me down. So, my 80% commitment is to not break promises I make to myself. It’s a good fit for me to let go of unrealistic expectations and realise that progress counts more than perfection.

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