Starting a new year often means a new outlook, new goals, and new resolutions. Did you know that studies have shown that less than 25 per cent of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after even just 30 days and only eight per cent accomplish them!
CPA Assist met up (virtually) with Chuck Amerongen, an Ironman Triathlon competitor, to learn about his strategies for approaching New Year’s resolutions. He suggests starting with the big picture first and working from there to set and accomplish specific goals such as New Year’s resolutions. To do so, Chuck recommends following the steps below.
Step 1 – Write an overall life mission plan, not just a resolution
A mission statement is a “written statement that encompasses what I believe to be the purpose of my life,” says Chuck.
Step 2 – Set an annual resolution and monthly goals
Chuck suggests setting these in four categories:
- Family / relationships
- Physical health
- Professional
- Spiritual
Goals may directly or indirectly impact each other, but they should all be areas you are looking to improve and build upon. Of course, they all should support your overall life mission.
Step 3 – Set weekly goals
These more specific goals will feed into your monthly goals and annual resolutions and should be reviewed frequently. This will allow you to adapt to your changing needs, circumstances, and the conditions around you and respond positively to those changes.
“Weekly goal setting is extremely important,” says Chuck. “We all get buffeted in life by adversity and challenges, and if we do not have clear and achievable goals, it is easy to be moved off-course due to life’s many challenges.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is an excellent example of one of the storms of life. It is extremely important in this time to set achievable goals and to adapt. For example, for a season, I am limited in some of the physical goals of racing in triathlons; however, the training has continued, and my friends and I have incorporated our own homemade races and training events to keep us focused and moving forward.”
Step 4 – Share your goal with someone
Accountability is a large part of making and keeping your goals. “The accomplishment of goals requires a strong and clear sense of overall purpose, determination, and support from others,” says Chuck. “We accomplish more together than on our own.”
Chuck and his wife are currently training together to achieve their goals of each participating in and completing an Ironman Triathlon in 2022. “This is a challenging goal, as I will be much older than when I completed my last one. This goal will significantly affect what I do during the next two years,” Chuck says.
True to his own advice and formula, Chuck says he will “break it into sub-goals, including shorter events and training events, individually and with others.”
Following Chuck’s advice should help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions!
Do you have a wellness story you want to share with your fellow CPAs? Email us at contact@cpa-assist.ca.
CPA Assist provides confidential counselling services and 24/7 crisis support to Alberta and Saskatchewan CPAs, candidates, and their immediate families. To book an appointment through CPA Assist, call 1-855-596-4222.