The New Year

At this time of year when everyone’s beginning to jump at New Year’s Resolutions, I’d like to offer a different approach as we begin the New Year. I’d like to suggest you to take time to commend yourself for the things you did accomplish this year on and off the bike: even if they weren’t one of your New Year’s Resolutions or goals in 2010.

Did you wake up 5 minutes earlier to do crunches or prepare for your early morning meeting? Did you improve your ability to focus in a TT? Have you left the house 10 minutes earlier so you arrive at your destination with 5 minutes to spare and relaxed rather than 5 minutes late and tense? Perhaps you got on the trainer, did CTV or went to the gym a few extra days during the big snow? Have you… eaten more vegetables? Drank one more cup of water and one less cup of coffee?

If you were able to do one or many of these things among endless other possibilities, commend yourself. These micro adjustments are the building blocks towards your ultimate success. Commend yourself first for the things you have done before you look critically at yourself at the things you didn’t do or could do better. Look back at your accomplishments before you make promises for the upcoming New Year. Give yourself a pat on the back, look at them monthly and evaluate often and of course this may be done with your coach, mentor or by yourself.

The 2011 season starts as soon as you say it starts. Here’s to a Happy and Healthy 2011. b