Achieving your goals this Spring
Did you know that a staggering 80% people have given up on their New Year’s resolutions by this time in the year? That’s why this month we are encouraging you to restart the goals that you set in January, so that you can finally reach the success that you have been hoping for.
But don’t be hard on yourself that things haven’t gone the way you originally planned. The word “failure” is so often feared, but really we should embrace it. When you have setbacks, reach a hurdle or even call it a day for a while, use these instances as learning opportunities. You can actually get more out of failure than you lose. So, instead of fearing failure, welcome it and remember that rarely do things go right the first time round. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again.
To help you on your journey to success, TEA+ Founder and Managing Director, James and Marketing Manager, Emily, will be working to achieve some goals of their own.
James
I started TEA+ because I am a big believer in the power of routine. Throughout my life, I have found that good or bad routines can make or break your health, finances, fitness and/or personal development goals. My wife and I set out to create a company that used tea as a vehicle to promote routine change, by adding vitamins and minerals to our products, as well as sharing content that will encourage our customers to make lifestyle changes of their own.
However, the daily stresses of running a business, as well as looking after two small children in lockdown, means that I’m not always a saint myself when it comes to maintaining good routines.
That’s why we launched the TEA+ journal in January and why we are relaunching an updated journal this month, in April. As many people start off the year with good New Year’s resolutions and falling away from those good habits within a couple of months, a journal can be a great way to get back on track, measure success and learn how to build a positive habit that forms a part of your daily routine.
I’m putting this into practice this month and using April to reset, rethink and restart a few goals of my own:
Run 20k a week - For eighteen months, I have been wanting to train to run a marathon, however lockdown has had a negative effect on my motivation to maintain and improve my fitness. As a result, I am a long way behind the curve, but I know that I can’t make progress if I never start. So, I am going to start today, with the plan to rack up 80km in total by the end of the month.
Meal prep for every weekday - This is a habit I have never cracked, but have always wanted to. Regrettably, I am too impulsive with my lunch choices, which can often lead to unhealthy decisions especially on a busy day. I am determined to dedicate time every Sunday to plan and prepare my meals for the week, so that every day I will hit the nutritional goal that I am aiming for.
Early nights - This sounds easy, but it is something I really struggle with. Decades of late nights have turned me into a night owl, so I now find myself doing most of my work late in the evening. As such, I definitely don’t get enough good quality sleep and this has consequences for my productivity the following day. So, I plan to rework my evening routine to make it healthier and more effective. Every night, I will spend some time revising my day, planning what needs doing the next day and cutting out screen time to achieve those better quality z’s.
Emily
I have always considered myself to be a goal-driven person. I find that I achieve my best work when I am under pressure or I have a target to aim for. I thrive on being under a time constraint and I love the feeling of relief I get when I turn in a piece of work or reach a goal on time. I find that there is no time to procrastinate or be unproductive when the clock is ticking, leaving me no choice but to get the work done.
However, lockdown has had a dramatic effect on my productivity and willpower when it comes to achieving my personal goals. I am guilty of being in the 80% of people who have already given up on their New Year’s resolutions and I have found myself developing unhealthy habits that leave me feeling sluggish and regretful.
As such, I have decided to take this opportunity to start afresh and work towards the goals that I set out to achieve at the beginning of the year:
Lose four pounds - Fifteen months postpartum and I’m still carrying a lot of the baby weight. I have been trying and failing to shed the pounds for a while, looking to fad diets for quick fixes and giving up when they inevitably fail. But weight loss is achieved most healthily and effectively when it is done slowly, with lifestyle changes that are feasible and maintainable. By introducing more exercise and safely reducing my calorie intake, while still consuming all the vital nutrients my body needs, I hope to achieve a loss of one pound a week. (Disclaimer: weight loss is a personal choice. What matters is that you feel comfortable in yourself.)
Drink enough water - Working from home whilst running around after a toddler all day means that I often forget to have a drink until my mouth is dry and my head is foggy. Thus, my body is often unable to function at its highest level. Drinking six to eight glasses of water a day is a simple and easy way to improve my performance and productivity.
Resistance train four times a week - Try not to laugh when I tell you that I am physically incapable of doing a press-up. Spending so much time indoors over the last year has had consequences for my fitness levels and physical strength. By beginning and sticking to a resistance training routine, I hope to work on my body strength and be able to achieve that coveted press-up by the end of the month.
Keep an eye on our social media platforms to follow our progress and be sure to check back here at the end of the month to see how we get on. If we can do it, so can you! What goals will you be setting yourself this April?
