Where Do You Want To Be in 2023?

Wishes to all for happiness and prosperity in the newly arrived year!

Recent days and weeks have provided time for reflection on where we have been and where we are going. Hopefully, this has led to the creation of a vision, an answer to the question of where do you want to be on this day in 2023. First up:

• Set your goals. Check them twice. Put them up on the refrigerator.

These visions and goals can be specific. "I want to be 10% leaner," or "I want to compete in the Golden Gloves tournament." They can be more grandiose, such as, "I want to help people in need," or "I want to have a meaningful career." Once you have your goals, the next step is to make a plan:

• Create a roadmap. Embrace it. Internalize it.

This is where the rubber meets the road. In order to become a reality, our new beginnings, goals and visions of the coming months need a roadmap. Start small and work up to big things. If you want to run marathon, you wouldn't start by running 26 miles. Your first month of training may consist of walk/running 1 or 2 miles a few times a week. If you want to be a competitive boxer, your first year would spent mastering fundamentals. But you do not have to do this alone. A coach or trainer will be a vital partner in your journey.

• Find a qualified guide.

Why do you need a guide? 95% of our members admit that, despite knowing what they need to do, they will not do it on their own at home or at gym. A qualified coach will keep you on track. While there are certainly some quality online programs that can get you going, scanning videos for cool exercises is not a solid plan. Random exercises put together will yield random results. When it comes to higher skill acquisition, that will lead to frustration, injury and, ultimately, the desire to quit. You will not get to the Golden Gloves learning to box from YouTube. Check your ego at the door. Remember that nobody is born knowing how to properly swing a Clubbell, jump rope or throw a left hook. Yet despite your best-laid plans, be realistic.

• Expect set-backs. Prepare for failure.

Embedding skills in muscle memory takes repetition -- a lot of it. Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. Practice until you get it right, then practice until you can't get it wrong. Prepare for failure. It is inevitable. But the most successful of us in any walk of life will tell you that failure is a teachable moment. Each failure should be embraced as a learning experience. If the plan goes off the rails, brush it off and get back to it, whether that be a nutrition plan or a training camp regimen.

• Check your progress. Acknowledge milestones. Make adjustments where necessary.

Periodically check how you have progressed. Are your goals being met? Acknowledge when they are and gain confidence from those successes as you face the next set of challenges. When they are not, make the necessary course adjustments.

Bottom line - figure out where you want to be 01/01/23 and start on that journey today.

Again, to all a heartfelt wish for a happy and prosperous New Year from Freeport Fitness Solutions!