by Aaron the Motivator
We know Aaron looks a bit scary in this photo but he’s been working incredibly hard in 2024 to get himself into shape. He’s yet to glimpse the long-awaited six-pack, but he’s made great progress and is determined to give it his all to see further improvement. Vanity? Self-development? Determination? Whatever the motivation, it’s his chosen focus for the early part of 2025. Aaron has long championed fitness within Dorset Humanists. Over the years, he’s inspired many of us with fitness walks, organized a memorable beach bootcamp, and been an enthusiast for courses aimed at boosting mental health. A passionate advocate for self-care, he firmly believes in the “use it or lose it” philosophy and encourages everyone to prioritize their well-being.
Are you on a bit of a mission? Did you start this January with a bit of a bump start? Does it really make any difference? Well, we’re a month in now and according to ChatGPT, these are the top ten listed New Year’s resolutions: did you choose one?
Improve Physical Health
Exercise more, lose weight, eat healthier, or drink more water.
Focus on Mental Well-Being
Practice mindfulness, reduce stress, or seek therapy for self-improvement.
Save Money and Improve Finances
Stick to a budget, save for a big purchase, or pay off debts.
Learn Something New
Take up a hobby, learn a language, or acquire a new skill.
Build Stronger Relationships
Spend more time with family and friends or improve communication skills.
Get Organized
Declutter your home, plan your time better, or improve work-life balance.
Quit Unhealthy Habits
Stop smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, or cut back on junk food.
Travel More
Visit new places, explore different cultures, or plan a dream vacation.
Give Back to the Community
Volunteer, donate to charities, or participate in local events.
Focus on Personal Growth
Read more books, set goals for self-improvement, or work on self-discipline.
In speaking with friends back in December, humanists appear not to hold much stock in picking a random date and committing to a life-changing tack. However, I think we need to take a closer look.
Life in the 21st century is busy and difficult, and quite often we just travel along our individual pathways, oblivious to our own well-being. Yes, things impact us from outside and jolt us into taking action, but in the absence of a hospital visit or a harsh talking-to from a loved one, should we not stop and pause for a moment and do it ourselves? Is my weight okay? Am I actually as healthy as I think I am? Is my headspace okay? Am I heading in life the way I want to be going? Do my finances need a budget? These are all good questions we should perhaps ask ourselves from time-to-time, and although 1 January has no real significance other than a date in the calendar, I still think it’s as good a date as any to conduct a personal audit of ourselves, and check everything is going to plan. Could things be improved for you?
Surely there’s always room for improvement, but I agree that we probably shouldn’t just do a New Year’s resolution for no reason. However, if we really look at ourselves, I think we probably could find one, and a really good one at that. Not wanting to wait for January, I began my journey in November, and started a diet to make room for some winter splurges. I lost 12 pounds in weight, and made some improvements in strength training also. It was part of a two-stage plan, with the second half now taking place from January.
Measuring your life
If you’re stuck knowing what resolution to pick, you could first do an assessment of your life. The “Wheel of Life” tool is really helpful for this. It divides your life into segments, and then you score each area of your life from 1 (not happy - needs improvement) to 10 (very happy - no improvement needed). The wheel tool is designed to help you create a balanced life. Of course, you could rename any of the categories, or add more categories if you wish. There are many examples on the internet. There is also a YouTube video explaining it in full here.
I thought I'd better lead by example here, so I knocked one together in PowerPoint. Clearly the romance needs the biggest boost, but that's pretty much out of my hands. I am further working on my physical health, and there is a course this year run by my local humanist group that will further enhance the personal growth element. Each person’s chart will look different, and how we choose to address each section will depend on our immediate needs and abilities to address them.
Holding ourselves to account
New Year’s resolutions usually come with a timeframe or score of some kind. Did we give up smoking, stop drinking too much alcohol, restrict our junk food intake, or gain that qualification we always wanted? How you measure your success will be entirely up to you, and very much dependent upon what it is you want to achieve. But it might be helpful to set a calendar reminder in three months’ time, to make sure it's still going to plan – and maybe share it with us here to let us know how you’re doing?
David Warden’s response
I took action last year to cut down on my commitments and improve my finances. Although I’m still very busy in the first quarter of 2025, I’m feeling the benefits of a bit more breathing space and a few more pounds in the bank. Decluttering my bedroom and getting my tax return done on time felt like big achievements in January. Dealing with a full-fibre upgrade turned into a major headache but we’re getting there! I’m busy planning our new Quest series of discussions about humanism, but after that I should have time for more visits to the gym and piano-playing.
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