Happy 2022! I took a couple of weeks off because I had a lot going on and needed to take care of other things. So unfortunately the blog got pushed to the side. But now it’s the new year and I’m back!

I feel like I mention every year how much I don’t like resolutions. They don’t tend to last, and people only make them because it’s the start of the new year. But that being said, I do like to set goals for myself because then it gives me something to work towards. The new year is a time for new beginnings.

However, as I was setting goals for myself, I realized that my goals all had something in common: maintenance. This year for me isn’t about big events and accomplishments. It’s about maintaining what I already have.

As always, fitness is one of my main goals. I definitely backslid these past couple months. So I need to get back on track with that. But I’m not starting from scratch. I’ve got a good foundation laid, and I know what needs to be done.

Another main goal is finances. I want to have better control of my finances, and I’m working to make that a reality. I already bought a financial planner, and I’m going to track my spending meticulously. I already know how to live within my means, but it can definitely be improved.

Those are just a couple of examples. But not every goal has to be some big advancement. Sometimes it’s enough just to take small steps.

These last two years have been especially full of uncertainty. And while I don’t know what the future holds, I know I can take steps to prepare myself for what may come in my own future. But for me, this year isn’t about big things and big accomplishments. This is about refining and improving what I already have so that I can continue as I need.

I bought a car a little over a year ago. And even though it’s relatively new, I still need to do maintenance on it. (I’m actually overdue for an oil change). But the car still works and runs just like it should. And so do I. Just because I have a few issues I need to fix does not prevent me from getting the things done that I need to.

As always, the only story I can tell is my own. I don’t know what this year looks like for you. This could be the year of big things. You might be at a point where you need to make those expensive purchases, and I don’t always mean that literally. Sometimes it’s big steps, and sometimes it’s small ones. What matters is that progress continues.

And that’s what bothers me about resolutions. So many people think that once they stop making progress, they just give up entirely. But the car still runs! You don’t buy a new car just because you run out of gas. That’s silly. But yet, that’s how people approach resolutions. Once the initial euphoria is gone, people just give up and stop. But you just got to fill up the tank of gas!

One thing that I’m having my students do is creating a goal for themselves. Part of this aspect is that they have to think how they can achieve this goal. And truthfully, I think that’s one thing that people forget when it comes to resolutions. You not only have to think of what you want the result to be, but also how you’re going to accomplish it. That’s what helps you to keep going when things get tough. If you stick to a process, it’s much easier to reach the end goal.

So as you set goals or resolutions for yourself, try to find the maintenance you need for your progress. This way, you’re more likely to keep up with the goals you set, whether they be big or small.