Do What I Say I'm Going To Do

I have to admit: I'm pretty bad at this. Doing what I say I am going to do. I don't really know why I'm bad at it, but I am. There, I said it. It bugs me actually and it's something I would like to change. I think it's fair to say that a good portion of people struggle with changing certain habits, replacing them with new and improved ones. They might struggle with finding the time (or making it a priority rather) to actually do everything they say they are going to do. Some might not take themselves seriously and just go around "making claims" without ever sticking to them just because they can. I'm not sure what camp I fall into.

Here are several (more like ten) examples of things I say I'm going to do but then I don't do:

Stop eating so much sugar

Get up at 5 a.m. to have writing time

Post on my blog once a week

Get better sleep

Spend more quality time with the kids

Spend more quality time with Ken

Hit my fitness goals

Be more mindful

Floss my teeth regularly

Relax and just have fun

So, what's my deal then? What's it gonna take?

When it comes right down to it, I don't like constraint and I don't like discomfort. I think that's why I'm falling into this dilemma. It takes discipline, perseverance and drive - something we talk about all of the time with our scholars when it comes to getting their Ph.D.'s. It takes a willingness to be "uncomfortable" for a period of time until the new habit or life style takes hold. It takes a willingness to "give up" certain things (i.e. sacrifice) in order to land at the ultimate goal or outcome. 

Last week, we had a session with Harley Blake (an AWESOME group facilitator from CMU's Human Resources) on goal setting. Of course he talked about SMART goals - goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. I've actually attended this seminar on goal setting for something like the past ten years - we usually host it for our scholars during the first week of our Summer Research Institute. You would think that somewhere along the line I would have picked up on this skill of setting (and achieving) SMART goals right?

So how about this? Let me re-phrase things for my top-five:

• Every time I feel the urge to eat a "sugary eatable" (the blatant kind of sugary items such as Oreos, M&M's, Lucky Charm cereal, mocha frappaccinos, ice cream, etc), I will text my "accountability partner" (yes, I already have this set up) to get support and find another alternative to satisfy my craving.
• I will institute a monthly "date night" with my husband starting in the month of June.
• I will practice crow pose and various plank poses on a daily basis to build my strength so that I can ultimately "jump back into chaturanga" by August 1
• I will create one new post for my blog every week by the deadline of Sunday by 12 midnight.
• I will do something special (i.e. read a book, play a game etc) with each child (Milah, Maeve and Ben) at least every other day.

There, I think that's better. Or at least a step in the right direction. I will be reporting on my progress and evolving mindset towards these goals. I will also create a chart for the wall to monitor my behavior daily and to further hold myself accountable.

One of the "posts" from the Winner's Circle that I have saved in my email inbox (I do that from time to time) is one on the topic of being "trustworthy" with yourself. I think "doing what I say I'm going to do" falls squarely into this category. 

So I'm setting out to be more trustworthy. I'm going to trust in myself to do what I say I'm going to do even when the going gets a little tough. I think I may be pleasantly surprised this time around!