Make a Commitment.

Don’t make a New Year’s resolution. Make a Commitment.

A new year is upon us again. As we enjoy fellow runners’, family and friends’ company, in the midst of merriment, gorging on lovely feasts and downing ample alcoholic beverages, the topic of New Year’s resolutions will pop up.

So, what are you resolving to do in the new year? Run more often? Run further? Have a better diet? I can promise you this: whatever you resolve to do in he new year, you will fail to do and maintain. A resolution on its own is not as powerful as a commitment. A resolution is only a idea, a figment of your mind that you choose to pay attention to. If you make a commitment, you will inevitably set some concrete goals followed with a plan. When you follow the plan and take the required actions, you are living your commitment and that is way better than a resolution. You will achieve what you set out to do. We don’t plan to fail but without a plan, you will definitely fail. Commit to the plan.

By all means, have some resolutions to kick things off but definitely shore them up with commitments. Your commitments will carry you through. Resolutions are weak because they do not have the smarts behind them.  Make commitments with plans behind them and these must be SMART plans (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound). Having detailed plans written down (or as part of a fitness app on you smartphone) enables you to then focus on the doing part.

What will  you commit to ? What kind of running commitment will you have? Feel free to leave your comments.