This morning when I opened my Facebook, I was presented with a challenge from the owner of the gym I’m a member at – to set intentional goals for December. I’ll admit, my first thought was “Really? During the busiest month of the year?”
But you know what? She was onto something. Because December doesn’t have to be a write-off for our health and wellness goals. So grab your coffee (or tea, or hot chocolate – no judgment here!), and let me share how I’m approaching the final month of 2024.
The Challenge: Get Real About December
Here’s what the owner asked us to do:
- Write down 5 goals for the month
- Identify potential roadblocks
- Create strategies to overcome them
Simple enough, right? Well, let me share my goals with you, and maybe they’ll inspire you to create your own!
Goal 1: Keep That Training Momentum Going I’ve got a half marathon coming up on January 11th, and winter weather is NOT going to derail me!
Potential Obstacles:
- Cold/snowy weather making outdoor running tough
- Holiday events conflicting with training schedule
- Getting sick during cold/flu season
- Family visits disrupting my routine
My Game Plan:
- Three runs per week (minimum 15 miles total)
- 1-2 strength training sessions
- Layers are my best friend for cold weather!
Goal 2: Nail My Running Nutrition
Potential Obstacles:
- Holiday parties throwing off meal timing
- Being too busy to meal prep
- Traveling and not having access to my usual foods
- Holiday treats replacing nutritious pre/post run fuel
My Game Plan:
- Fuel with a carb-rich snack 1-2 hours before each run
- Protein/carb recovery meal within 30 minutes after
- No more running on empty and wondering why I’m dragging!
Goal 3: Master Holiday Stress Management
Potential Obstacles:
- Overcommitting to holiday events
- Family dynamics causing extra stress
- End-of-year work deadlines
- Financial pressure from holiday spending
My Game Plan:
- Taking a daily 10-minute quiet break (even if it means hiding in the bathroom!)
- Setting boundaries around holiday commitments
- Saying “no” to non-essential activities
- Keeping a “wins journal” where I write down one positive thing each day, no matter how small (even if it’s just “I got out of bed” – because some days, that’s a win!)
Goal 4: Keep Those Connections Strong
Potential Obstacles:
- Everyone’s busy schedules making it hard to connect
- Winter weather canceling meet-ups
- Holiday overwhelm leading to social withdrawal
- Travel plans interfering with regular check-ins
My Game Plan:
- Schedule one meaningful connection each week (coffee date, anyone?)
- Send two heartfelt messages weekly to people I care about
Goal 5: Stay Budget-Savvy
Potential Obstacles:
- Emotional spending when stressed
- Last-minute gift pressure
- Unexpected holiday expenses
- Sales and deals creating temptation to overspend
My Game Plan:
- Setting (and sticking to!) a gift budget
- Getting creative with handmade gifts
- Making shopping lists to avoid impulse buys
- Focusing on meaningful experiences over expensive presents
The Reality Check
Here’s the thing – these goals aren’t about being perfect. They’re about staying true to ourselves during a month that often feels like chaos in tinsel wrapping. Some days we’ll crush it, others… well, let’s just say there might be more cookies than kale involved.