NOT FOUND: the c word.jpgThere are actually quite a few “c” words that cause fear to rear its ugly head in many of our minds. Undoubtedly you can think of several right now.
The one we’re going to address today is commitment. No need to be alarmed – this is good stuff. As we round the bend toward the end of another year, the thought of New Year’s resolutions and goals begin to roll around in our heads. It’s a fact that having goals is vital to a life filled with success. Our goals are more easily achieved when we make a commitment to work the plan to reach them.

A primary component of commitment is writing it down. Studies prove that we retain more if we take notes or write things down. Note the popularity of planners, smartphones, post-it notes, etc. Even goals have a higher percentage of being reached if they are written down – even if nothing else is done toward meeting the goal.

We have now entered another “c” word territory – contract or covenant. There is something about a written contract or covenant that causes us to put more effort towards fulfilling the stated commitment. My suggestion this month is that we make a contract with ourselves to have a healthy holiday season. Instead of throwing caution to the wind and paying for it in January, why not save the regret and discomfort with a smarter, more responsible approach. This can be used in any area of your life: eating, exercise, drinking, spending, spending time with loved ones, etc.

With the hectic holidays upon us, take some time to plan ahead.

  • Make a commitment about how much you will spend for the holidays – account for emergencies and surprises.
  • Write down the extra parties and get-togethers you will be hosting or attending.
  • Choose to eat less the days before to prepare for the higher calorie intake at the special occasions.
  • Consider the extra outings and later nights -- write a covenant with yourself about getting to bed earlier several nights a week.
  • You may have to let some of your regular activities slow down or subside -- remember how important balance is.
  • Look at your schedule and determine if you need to change your workout routine – write down the days and times you will workout.

Give some thought to this now and you will feel refreshed throughout the holidays and even better when January comes around. Commitment is not a bad word and it’s not a negative force created to keep you in chains. It will bring more freedom to your life because you will have a handle on what you can expect each day. You can relieve much of the stress that is associated with the holidays by making a covenant with yourself to plan ahead to have an enjoyable, healthy time. Making a commitment with yourself will help you stay on the road to a successful 2011. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!