It is hard to believe that not only December but also 2013 is coming to a close. Now if you think back eleven and a half months chances are you were making some large and elaborate New Year’s resolutions to get faster in the water, swim at least three times a week, lose weight, tackle your first triathlon, or all of the above. Have you stuck to your commitment?

If so, congratulations! You are part of a very, very, very exclusive club. According to one study that I read only 1 of 10 resolutions actually stick. If you are like the majority of people (and I am card carrying member) your resolutions fell by the wayside halfway through January. My resolution last year was to get faster in the water (that one I actually did do), repeat a top five finish in Vegas (didn’t happen), give up some of my bad eating habits (this one I did to some extent but not nearly as well as I should have). Honestly, I am not too worried with not meeting these goals because when midnight strikes on December 31st my ability to change is exactly the same as it is at midnight tonight.

Every moment is ripe for change. If you are disappointed with how you eat then you do not need to wait to December 31st to make a change for the better. You can do it at the very next meal. If you want to get faster in the water, you can do so by just getting in the water tomorrow morning and doing a structured workout.

Do yourself a favor and get a two week head start on all your resolutions with these simple steps:

1. Take an honest look at where you are right now. To make change, you have to first figure out where you are now and where you can improve. To do this well, you cannot lie to yourself. If you are swimming a 2:00/100yrd average, then accept it, and then….
2. Figure out what you are going to do to fix it. Making a resolution without a game plan to back it up is like trying to find the bathroom in the dark. You may or may not eventually get there, but there is a huge risk that you may not in time. If one of your resolutions is to cut your open water or pool times down, then I would recommend seeking professional help. Enlist a trained coach to look at your form to pinpoint your weaknesses and make recommendations, after which you can…
3. Create a timeline. Real change takes time and dedication. If you want to get faster in the pool then you will have to put in the time and effort. Set realistic goals for yourself so you can track your progress over the course of several months. Note there is no set deadline. If you do not hit one benchmark, reassess, make the appropriate changes, and set a new deadline. When it comes to goals, as long as moving forward you are moving in the right direction.
4. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. You cannot force a person to change; you can only change if you really want it. Many times, people make resolutions because they feel those are the ones they “should” make, rather than what they want. Unless you truly want to change, then it will not happen.
5. Lastly, resolutions are an ongoing journey, so focus on the process rather than the outcome. By being process oriented, you not only enjoy it more but you are also less likely to beat yourself up if things do not work out exactly as planned. Many times it turns out even better.

Take the next two weeks to do some soul searching and figure out your game plan, so when midnight strikes you will be ready.

Have a great week,
Coach Chris and Kev