Small Steps and Discipline

Happy 2023! I love me a new year. It’s a time to reflect on my life and reset my goals and intentions for another trip around the sun.

This year, I’m focusing on small steps and discipline. With small steps, it’s the reminder that tiny decisions matter. I’m going to lose some weight this year (thanks COVID for those extra lbs), and the way I’m going to do it is by focusing on making manageable changes that build on each other and create momentum. Weight loss is the perfect forum to practice a small step mentality because weight comes off in small increments, and each decision does matter. I’m someone who can be quick to convince myself that “this bite doesn’t matter. This won’t make a difference”, but I have learned that they do matter. With discipline, I can make the better choice and with small steps, I will make easy choices that I can repeat day in and day out. Some of my small steps include carrying a water bottle with me wherever I go, brushing my teeth at 8pm to avoid late night binges, and committing to 20 minutes of movement 3 times a week. These changes sound so small that its almost hard to believe that I’ll lose weight. However, let’s fast forward. If I do those three things for an entire year, the scale will go down… and that’s the ultimate goal!

With discipline, I’m interested in improving my relationship with myself by following through on my commitments- like reducing the number of meetings I end up needing to reschedule, deciding to write another blog post instead of watching TV, following my new weight loss plan and more. I don’t intend to be harsh or strict or trigger the perfectionist parts of myself. Instead, by saying the word “discipline” to myself each day, I’ll remind myself of my ultimate goals and give myself permission to remain committed, to remain disciplined towards achieving what I want to achieve this year. Building new habits does require repetition and practice and discipline is the mindset that helps me to do the things I need to do each day.

I encourage each of you to think of a theme for 2023 instead of specific resolutions. What word or words will ground you and remind you of your intentions and ultimate goals? Need help? That’s what I’m here for.