Marie Bostwick's Blog, page 23
January 23, 2019
A Bucket List How To Guide for Beginners
Goal setting for 2019: check! You used those SMART goals and you have a plan. Give yourself a high-five.
This time of the year it’s easy to find inspiration and a lot of conversation around the goals for the next year plans for achieving those goals. But what about longer-term goals? I know, I know, a year sounds like a long-term goal and in some ways it is. But stick with me here. What about goals that are even longer-term than a year: your lifetime goals.
What about a bucket list?
I’m sure you’ve heard the term before, whether in the slightly fantastical Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman movie or in a conversation elsewhere that was more on the realistic side.
What Goes On A Bucket List
Well, anything you want to achieve goes on your bucket list!
Step one: brainstorm. Find somewhere comfortable and start a list. Anything and everything goes on the list, no matter how crazy it seems. Big things like traveling to all the continents and or smaller things like perfecting the perfect pie crust. This is your license to dream big. Don’t feel hemmed in by practicality at this time, think passion!
It might be hard to find a jumping off point. You can pose questions to yourself like: if you died tomorrow, what would you regret not doing? What places have you always dreamed of seeing? Is there anyone you would love to meet and how would you go about doing that? What experiences do you want to have with your spouse, or children or parents? Are there any achievements or experiences you see your friends having that make you yearn to do the same?
Now Organize The Bucket
Ok, so you’ve got a list that’s all over the place. Good! Now, see how you can categorize items.
Often many items will fall under the category of travel – I think we all dream of exotic lands and far-flung places we haven’t yet gotten to see. Put all of that in one category.
Maybe another category is education. Want to learn a new language? That instrument you’ve thought beautiful your entire life? All that gets wrapped up together!
Keep going like this finding categories and pulling like items together. At this point there’s usually a bit of clarity – you’ll probably start to see some themes running through your list.
Pat yourself on the back. You’ve taken the first huge leap toward creating a bucket list for yourself. Maybe you’ve captured the energy and want to keep plowing ahead, or maybe you want to let a few days pass and your thoughts clarify a bit.
Where the Bucket Meets the Road
Maybe it’s been a few days, maybe it’s only a few minutes but you’re going strong and ready to move ahead. You’ve got a great bucket list and it’s loosely organized by categories – what next?
Scroll through the list and be on the lookout for big items. The ones that are “get my pilot’s license to fly hot air balloons.” Who even knows what all the steps are to achieving that goal? That’s a big question, but the question for now is, “What is the first step to achieving this goal?” Maybe that’s taking a local pilot for a cup of coffee and asking their advice. Maybe it’s going ahead and registering for flight training. You know yourself best, so be honest about what your starting point is for each of your bucket list items.
Filling Your Bucket
Perhaps the most fun step of buckets lists comes now – deciding which one or ones you want to focus on! Do you have vacation days saved up at work and want to plan one of those dream trips? Or maybe you’re out of vacation time but you recently found yourself with the free time to join a French club and learn to parle Français.
Bucket lists aren’t about endings, they are about living the best life we can! I know a woman named Marci who got inspired to live her best life and ended up founding DreamsCo which is all about bucket lists. It doesn’t get any better than starting a list and before you even get to the end you founded a company all about helping other people achieve their dreams!
Once we put our mind to something and start putting energy behind that, we can achieve things which once seemed crazy. If you want inspiration, check out Marci’s bucket list that now is a list of 101 Completed Dreams.
The best part about a bucket list (or maybe the worst part depending on how task-oriented you are!) is that bucket lists aren’t always meant to be completed. It’s the kind of list that is an ever-evolving document. As one item comes off, maybe you have the ability to add another item to the list.
Frame The Bucket On The Wall
Well, maybe it doesn’t need a frame. But certainly don’t go hiding your list in the back of the bottom desk drawer. Science shows that if we write down our goals and dreams and see that regularly we are more likely to achieve them. So whether you type it up in a pretty font or write it out in your best penmanship be prepared to keep you list somewhere you will see it regularly. That doesn’t mean you have to post it on your refrigerator for all the world to see, but maybe on your vanity mirror? Or taped to the side of a computer monitor? You know yourself best but strive for a location that you’ll see frequently and bonus points for a location where you already feel inspired!
Start your list off with, “1 – Write my bucket list!” Then mark it off with gusto and find your next dream to make a reality!
The post A Bucket List How To Guide for Beginners appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
January 17, 2019
How to Change Up Your Winter Exercise Plan (And Stay Warm!)
What’s the weather like where you are?
Here in Central Oregon, we’re in the middle of a cycle of snow, rain, ice, repeat. Yuck.
I imagine it’s about the same where you are. Unless you’re reading this on a beach in Brazil (I hope so! Send me a postcard if you are!) then you’re probably dealing with something pretty similar when you open your door.
So let’s explore some options for inside workouts. Inside. You know, where it doesn’t snow or ice or whip you with high winds.
MY NEW WORKOUT: BARRE3
For Christmas a few weeks ago we spent time in Oklahoma City with the Chairman-In-Training and his family. (I did a lot while I was there: shopped for workout clothes, worked on my 2019 goals, and had one too many helpings of this fantastic green chili egg puff.)
My son’s wife, affectionately know as The Llama, talks often about her current workout love, barre3. She wanted to show me the ropes so we scheduled a class and off we went.
Whew! Barre3 is tough! But it’s also a great workout option for women of any age and especially for those beyond 50. It’s considered a “low-impact” workout, which means you’re strengthening the muscles without putting undue pressure on your joints. However, low-impact doesn’t mean your body is getting off the hook.
I can personally attest to how challenging the barre workout was. So can The Chairman who had the joy of carrying my bags though the airport the next day (and almost me) because I was still sore!
Barre3 has studios across the nation, you can look to see if there is one close to you. Additionally, Pure Barre is very similar and again has locations across the country.
FIERCE IS TRYING NEW THINGS
A new workout class can be intimidating. All their regulars have their ‘spot’ staked out so you’re not sure where you’re supposed to stand when you walk in. Everyone else is in perfect shape will do the exercises effortlessly while you flail around, not 100% sure how your arm is supposed to turn. You suspect the instructor is secretly rolling their eyes at you…the list goes on.
Don’t be silly! Instructors teach these classes because they like helping newbies out and showing them the ropes. Everyone else was new once too and will likely offer a knowing smile and answer your questions if you ask. Especially this time of year, classes are full of visitors as people work on their goals for the new year. You will not be the only rookie, I promise.
Admittedly, I wasn’t entirely enthusiastic about attending barre3 with The Llama (all a reflection of my anxiety about the class, none on The Llama.) But after class I was enthusiastic and glad I had tried. Sure, I couldn’t carry my carry-on the next day but I was the good kind of sore, the kind that makes you feel accomplished.
I am planning to make barre classes a regular part of my winter workout.
WORKOUTS TO TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Part of my responsibility as a blogger is sharing myself trying new things, even at the risk of being photographed in some pretty strange looking poses. Look at this move:
It’s just that, over and over again. And over. And then maybe one more time for good measure. This exercise move is called The Clamshell and it’s explained in-depth here with various modifications. It’s really, really good for your inner thighs (and by good, I mean it will make you incredibly sore the next day). You’ll notice the article specifically says not to lift your toes from the ground, but at least in barre3 class the teacher told me to. I promise, I was following instructions!
Here’s another, showing the two ends of another deceptively challenging exercise. Yes, I am smiling (sort of) but that’s really for your benefit.
This is a full-body-in-pain sort of move. It’s one of those that has the potential to make your whole body shake from fatigue. (That’s how you know it’s working.)
Here’s how to enjoy this sensation for yourself. First, lay on your side and stretch your top leg and top arm as far as you can without falling over. Next, contract both appendages in so your rolled tight into a ball, pulling both your elbow and your knee to your chest. This is not as easy as it looks. Everything hurts here.
Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. (Or possibly Ow. In. Ow. In.) Repeat endlessly, pausing occasionally to shoot Death Ray glares toward barre instructor. Out. In. Out. In. You get the idea.
The great part about this move is that it’s working your legs, your glutes, your obliques, your arms. Everything. So it’s worth it.
WORKOUT SUPPLIES FOR AT HOME WORKOUTS
One of the benefits of these moves, and others like them, is they require very little stuff. No big treadmill (aka: makeshift clothes rack) or anything like that. A couple of small hand weights that are light will do the trick. Don’t get overconfident and buy heavy ones. Even the teacher in these classes uses two pound weights! A small, grippy ball and a yoga/exercise mat if you have one.
Voila, that’s it!
Go Ahead. Try Something New. You Can Do It!
I encourage you to try a new workout this month. Winter is the perfect time for it. Not only can you escape the cold, changing up your routine by trying something new will help fight workout boredom and those post-Christmas pounds.
Don’t think barre is right for you? Then consider these options – Zumba, water aerobics, yoga, or Pilates. In past years, I have tried all and enjoyed them all.
Well…okay. Except Zumba. Specifically, Trampoline Zumba (no kidding, this is a thing).
One of my novels, Apart at the Seams, includes a scene in which the heroine, who is on a mission to do things she’s never done before, takes Trampoline Zumba. She lasted eight whole minutes, which was two more than I did.
So, fine. The Zumba workout didn’t work out for me. But you might love it. You also might love barre. Or Yoga. Or Pilates. Or maybe a even a spin class. You’ll never know if you don’t try .
If you really struggle to drag yourself to a new place, bring a friend. Having a wingman makes everything more fun. That way, even if the workout you try turns out to be your version of Trampoline Zumba, you’ll still have a survival story to share and laugh about for years to come. More than worth the price of admission, right?
So take a chance! Beat the cold and shake off those winter doldrums with a workout that will get your muscles working and your heart pumping! (Just be sure to plan on carrying a light purse the next day.)
The post How to Change Up Your Winter Exercise Plan (And Stay Warm!) appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
Cheers to Your Health: Easy Healthy Smoothie Recipes for That Healthy Glow
Looking for that healthy glow? Especially in the dead of winter when nothing is glowing and nothing feels healthy? I’ve got the answer.
Smoothies!
I know what you’re thinking.
Ok, Marie, don’t tell me that I can just live off of green smoothies and magically drop a ton of weight.
Don’t even think about asking me to forego a meal and eat pureed vegetables.
Don’t tell me I need to buy a $700 Vitamix for the occasion.
Do not worry, my Fierce friend! I don’t advocate any of those things. What I do recommend is swapping out unhealthy snacks for a frosty, fresh smoothie that you’ll enjoy. I look forward to mine. I crave them. It’s usually a mid-morning or post-workout treat for me.
While I don’t claim that drinking smoothies, donning the right pair of yoga pants, setting fitness goals, or trying a new workout is the key to achieving your healthiest self, they can’t hurt. They might help. So why not give them a try?
What I love about smoothies is that it’s an easy way to cross off a few fruits and vegetable serving suggestions for the day and get a full dose of protein from greek yogurt.
You can also add in all sorts of things that I believe can really help with healthy aging, like chia seeds or flax oil.
If you use something like chocolate protein powder, you can trick yourself into thinking that you are enjoying a milkshake.
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How to Keep Your Smoothies Healthy
Let’s quickly recap what to be aware of when you make a smoothie. I have a sweet friend who just loves his smoothies and drinks them out of a half gallon size tumbler and loads them with nuts and granola and a ton of protein powder and his usual “Secret ingredients.” I always remind him that while that might taste good and likely offer lots of protein and vitamins and minerals, it’s a huge amount of sugar and probably enough calories for the entire day. At least for me, anyway.
Here’s how to stay out of trouble:
Smoothies can have a boatload of calories and sugar if you don’t work on portion control. Use plain Greek yogurt and unsweetened soy or almond milk (not anything with added sugar) and try to avoid adding extra sweetener like honey If you’re using fruit, it’s already sweet enough. Smoothies run the risk of having a super concentrated fruit sugars. This doesn’t need to scare you away, but makes sure that is balanced out with a dark leafy green (like kale) and plenty of protein to keep your blood sugar in check.
On a similar note, if you plop dollops of various nut butters into your smoothie, it’s going to be high calorie. I know calories aren’t everything but try to keep almond butter or peanut butter to only a serving size, like a tablespoon. Same goes with added nuts or granola.
If all the ingredients are fresh it loses its ethereal milkshake-like qualities. It also runs the risk of leaving organic produces to sadly rot in your refrigerator. I like to freeze my bananas, berries, and even things like fresh ginger root. That way, I always have what I need on hand
The bottom line? Smoothies need to strike the perfect balance of health fats, protein, fruits and vegetables.
How to Start A Smoothie Habit
Think you know how to make a smoothie? Yogurt, bananas, blueberries, blender? Well guess what. The world is so much bigger than that. And your body needs more than just the same thing every day. Switching up your smoothies helps you have a more varied diet and eat the rainbow, an essential part of staying healthy over 50.
To help you navigate this unchartered blender territory, I recommend starting with a smoothie recipe book. And not just any book, it has to be beautiful. It has to have a healthy glow. It has to inspire you. This one fit the bill for me. In fact, I gave away a copy at Christmas as well.
This book has a prescriptive approach, and it offers different types of treats like simple smoothies, post-workout favorites, breakfast ideas, energizers, and even desserts. They even include a whole section of what you need in your pantry for smoothie-mania.
The recipes that stuck out to me were thinkings like avocado, mango and lime, a chamomile and magnesium-filled smoothie that helps with sleep, a green goodness smoothie bowl, and an orange sesame smoothie with muddled raspberries.
I can’t wait to try every kind!
My Favorite Go-To Smoothie
Here is my favorite smoothie that I always seem to crave and usually have the ingredients for. I mix it up with different kinds of fruit, but the main ingredients are the same: unsweetened almond milk, frozen berries or frozen mango or frozen pineapple, kale, chia seeds, flavor oil, ginger, turmeric, plain non-fat greek Yogurt, and a half frozen banana.
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My Go-To Easy Healthy Smoothie
Author: Marie Bostwick
Prep Time: 5 Total Time: 5
Yield: 1 serving
Category: smoothies
Print Recipe 
Pin RecipeDescription
Ginger helps with inflammation, muscle pain and soreness (hello, triathlon training!), indigestion, blood sugar issues, lowers cholesterol, and helps combat certain heart disease risk indicators. Turmeric is the other powerful spice I add to my smoothies. And it’s just as potent: it can lower risk of heart disease, slow aging and protect against age-related chronic disease, and also can serve as an anti-inflammatory and a natural anti-depressant. So basically, I’m not messing around.
Ingredients
1/2 cup plain non-fat greek yogurt
1/4 unsweetened almond milk*
half of a frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen fruit of your choice
1/2 cup kale (stems removed)
one inch piece of peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
half tablespoon of chia seeds
half tablespoon flax oil
*Use milk of your choice here and use as much as it takes to get the texture you want. A quarter cup usually does it for me.
Instructions
You know what to do. Blend. Serve.
Keywords: easy health smoothie recipes, healthy snacks, weight watchers freestyle
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @fiercebeyond50 on Instagram and hashtag it #fiercebeyond50
The post Cheers to Your Health: Easy Healthy Smoothie Recipes for That Healthy Glow appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
January 15, 2019
A Cover Reveal for my Latest Novel, Hope On The Inside
I’ve been keeping the secret for months now, counting down the days and hours until I could spill the beans. My new novel, Hope On The Inside, now available for pre-order, will hit bookstore shelves on March 26th, 2019!
Let’s start by talking about the cover. Because you know how I am with pretty things.
I know we’re not supposed to judge a book but its cover but just this once, let’s break the rules. I mean, how sweet is this cover? It looks like springtime! So pretty I could wear it as an accessory.
Come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea. What better fashion statement could there be than a beautiful book? Tells the world you’re so much more than just another pretty face. Could be the start of a trend!
So, now that I’ve shown off the cover, watch this super high-tech video to hear about what you’ll find inside!
And here’s a teaser, just to give you a deeper glimpse into Hope’s story.
In this compelling, heartwarming novel from New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick, one woman finds new purpose in a new phase of life . . .
“Whatever comes your way, find the happiness in it.” Hope Carpenter received that advice from her mother decades ago. Now, with their four children grown, Hope and her husband, Rick, are suddenly facing an uncertain future, after a forced retirement strains both their savings and their marriage. Seeking inspiration and a financial boost, Hope gets a job teaching crafts to inmates at a local women’s prison.
At first, Hope feels foolish and irrelevant, struggling to relate to women whose choices seem so different from her own. But with time, and the encouragement of the prison chaplain, she begins to discover common ground with the inmates, in their worries about their children and families, their fear of having failed those who need them. Just like her, they want to make something of themselves, but believe it might be impossible.
Embarking on an ambitious quilting project, Hope and her students begin to bond. Together, piece by piece, they learn to defy expectations—their own and others’—and to see that it’s never too late to stitch together a life that, even in its imperfections, is both surprising and beautiful.
I can’t wait for you to meet Hope Carpenter, a women who I believe we can all relate to. Make sure to pre-order your copy today!
The post A Cover Reveal for my Latest Novel, Hope On The Inside appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
January 11, 2019
Workout Clothes for Women after Fifty: Sweating Fierce
We’re going to talk about workout clothes today. Why?
Well, if someone hasn’t already told you, I’m the friend who is here to say it. Your husband’s old college t-shirts just aren’t cutting it anymore.
Workout clothes have changed so much since we were kids. Back then, heavy, suffocating polyester was the height of chic. “Athletics”, and the gear that went with it, was for people who played a specific sport. There wasn’t an entire industry devoted to making clothes just for working out.
We put a man on the moon and deregulated the telephone industry. Then finally we learned how to make a supportive and comfortable sports bra. Which is to say, the innovation took time. But now that it’s here, let’s take advantage of it!
First off, let’s be clear. Yes, you burn the same number of calories wearing that old t-shirt as you do a new lightweight cami with a cellphone pocket. But if you’re anything like me, feeling good is part of the battle. If I feel good (and feeling like I look good is part of that) I’m more likely to take in that barre class this afternoon. If I feel good there is a better chance I’ll feel like grabbing the Chairman for a brisk after dinner walk.
It comes down to this. A little workout wardrobe refresh puts a pep in my step and each of those peppy steps make me healthier!
There’s a chance one of those SMART goals you’ve just worked on has something to do with working out. One of my goals this year to participate in another sprint triathlon (my first was last year) but with a faster finishing time. Reaching that goal will mean upping my game when it comes to training. I decided to get some new workout gear because I know that feeling good and looking good while I’m at the gym will inspire me to get there more often. Want to see some of what I found?
ATHLETIC WEAR ISN’T JUST FOR ATHLETES
It’s comfortable, it’s spandex, it’s colorful. What’s not to love? Even if you don’t have a yoga class that afternoon you can still be stylish. As far as I’m concerned tights are a necessary part of the process to walk the dog, write big, beautiful words and/or frantically pace the floor looking for my reading glasses. All require spandex.
Mix and match is the name of the game. Choose some solids. As we all know classic, black bottoms hide a multitude of sins. But the bright floral pattern I found will make your heart swoon when it’s frosty outside and you haven’t seen a proper flower in months. Or maybe that’s just me in the northwest. Anyway…mixing and matching gives you lots of selection. Which is important because once you discover how amazing this stuff is you’ll catch yourself wondering where you can’t wear it. (Apart from a wedding, opening night at the opera, or a white tie charity gala – I haven’ been able to think of any place.)
Look at these ombre polka-dotted tights, worn two ways? It’s like ‘Who Wore It Better’ in those magazines, but the answer is always you!
(Sorry I can’t share my goofy smiles with you, sometimes cropping photos on the internet is hard. My head was a casualty of the process.)
SAFETY FIRST
Sun safety is number one. And number two. And number one-hundred. Use a moisturizer every day that has SPF. Personally, I use this classic CeraVe with SPF 30 but use whatever you like that you are willing to slather on every day. And don’t forget the backs of your hands, ears, or neck.
If you’re a little scatterbrained and struggle to put on that SPF (I wouldn’t know anything about that, nope, not at all) then look for clothes with SPF built in. This top is adorable and has SPF 50 built-in to the material, so does this hoodie!
Are you a runner? I change up my workout routines but when I’m training for triathlons, I do a lot of outdoor running and I love a baseball hat like this with a little bit of reflective trim. Squinting into the sun without proper protection like a hat and sunglasses isn’t doing your face any favors.
LET’S START ON TOP
Alright ladies, about your ladies. If you’re doing much activity, you want something that gives you support and wicks away sweat. Yes, you read that right, it wicks away sweat – there’s that innovation! This sports bra is medium support so good for your yoga or cycling classes, but you’ll probably want something more substantial for running. (This is the same bra, but for larger cup sizes)
Here’s the thing about buying sports bras (same advice applies to buying swimsuits); when trying them on you need to make peace with the fact that you do not and cannot look like the skinny, tanned 20-something who modeled it in the magazine or on the store website. Honestly thanks to airbrushing, chances are good that she might not even look like that.
That, my friends, is why I decided to let you see this utterly unairbrushed, unphotoshopped picture of me and my rolls in all their glory! Because here is the thing; for the last year and half, I’ve worked out six days a week, hard. In that time, I’ve reached my goal weight, improved my stamina, energy, and cardiovascular health. I’ve lost fat and gained muscle. I feel healthy, fit, and good about myself. But guess what? In spite of all my healthy habits and vigorous workouts, I’ve still got rolls in places that used to be smooth. And no matter how hard I work out, there always will be. It’s just reality, so set your expectations accordingly. Embrace a healthy lifestyle and love your fierce, beyond-fifty body! That is wisdom.
OVER THE TOP
Now that you’ve got this sweat-wicking and supportive bra, what goes on top of it? No surprise, I’ve got suggestions on that too.
Personally, I recommend longer tops, they cover those panty lines. I refuse to wear a thong so my apologies to whoever is running behind me. The panty line will be there. But really no apologies, I’m embracing my reality. All you have to do is embrace the view! For slightly longer tops choose something like this for sleeveless, this for a short-sleeved option, or a long-sleeved option that yours truly modeled for your viewing pleasure!
TO THE BOTTOM
Call them tights, call them leggings, call them whatever you want. I call them bliss.
There are a lot of people out there with strong feelings about wearing these in public. In my opinion, as long as they aren’t so thin we see everything when you bend over, it’s all good.
A cute, well put-together athletic wear outfit is on par with an outfit that includes pants.
However, a sloppy, ill-fitting athletic wear outfit is also on par with sloppy, ill-fitting outfit that includes pants.
Make sure it’s the former, leave the house looking sharp and pulled-together, and wear your outfit with pride!
As previously mentioned, just make sure the fabric isn’t too thin. Buy from a brand name you know and trust and you should be covered (literally!)
I also suggesting looking for higher-waisted options like these solid ones, or the striped ones. You don’t necessarily need to look at high waisted *only* but certainly don’t look for anything low-rise. Low rise = muffin top. And I’m not talking yummy muffins, I’m talking the unflattering evidence of possibly having eaten too many yummy muffins. It’s not a good look. A longer tops help with this. Also, tops that are a little flowey at the bottom, such as the white one I’m wearing above, are especially flattering and fun to wear.
A final note. Potentially the best innovation in workout clothes ever? Pockets in tights! Honestly, once you have a pair with them you’ll wonder how you ever got along without pockets! These pastel colorblock tights have them, these with mesh panels do as well and these come in every color of the rainbow!
Get yourself some spandex courage and tackle that workout class. You know the one. The one you’ve always wanted to try but been intimidated by.
Spandex courage, my friend.
Go!
The post Workout Clothes for Women after Fifty: Sweating Fierce appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
January 9, 2019
Goal Setting Tips: Looking Forward for an Amazing Year
Would you like to make 2019 the best, most productive, most fulfilling, and most amazing year of your life?
I bet that about ninety-nine percent of you answered yes. But I’ll also bet that more than fifty percent of you added a caveat to your response – a Yes, but…Maybe more than one.
Yes, but I don’t have enough money.
Yes, but I don’t have enough time.
Yes, but I’m too old.
Yes, but I never finish what I start.
Yes, but I’ve said that before, year after year, and it never, ever, ever happens.
Believe me, I understand.
Resolutions vs. Goals
When a new year rolls around, it’s natural to think about the things we’d like to do or see happen during that year. But, especially for those of us living in the years beyond fifty, it’s also natural to start to remember all of new years that have passed, how we started out with the best of intentions, a laundry list of resolutions, only to come to get to the end of the year and find we hadn’t stuck with any of them.
I’ve lived long enough to realize that for most people, and certainly for me, new year’s resolutions simply don’t work. Studies have shown that only 8% of people who make resolutions actually keep them. And you know what Albert Einstein said, right? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting to get a different result.
That’s why I don’t make new year’s resolutions anymore. Having done so year after year, only to see them fall by the wayside in a few days, weeks, or months, I am wise enough to know that they simply don’t work. Expecting those resolutions to suddenly produce results isn’t just an exercise in futility, it’s a little bit crazy.
But, does that mean that wanting to make improvements in your life is also a crazy, fruitless exercise? Not at all!
Play it SMART This Year
If we’ve been making resolutions year after year and not seeing results, it’s time to change your approach. This year, instead of making resolutions, try making goals.
Better yet, try making SMART goals.
At the end of every year, I spend a significant amount of time sorting through my hopes, dreams, and desires to figure out what I would most like to accomplish in the coming year. This first step is really important. And more importantly, as I have mentioned in a previous post about productivity, writing my goals down gives me more conviction and courage in achieving those goals.
There are always more things I’d like to do, improvements I’d like to make, or good habits I’d like to establish (along with a few bad ones I’d like to break!) than I can realistically accomplish within a single year. Narrowing down the list to those that really matter to me helps me focus on the areas matter and increases my chances of success.
Once I’ve figured out what goals I want to accomplish, I put some serious thought into how to make that happen. Doing that requires taking the next step by making my goals SMART.
What is a SMART Goal?
What constitutes a SMART goal? It’s a goal that is…
Specific
Measureable
Actionable
Relevant
Time-bound
For those of you that love a good acronym, I’m sure this one will make your acronym-loving hearts go pitter pat! Plus, it makes it easy to remember.
Creating a SMART goals will help you establish a framework for success and can serve as a huge first step in mapping out a plan that will take you from where you are now, to where you’d like to be a year from now.
If you’ve ever worked in a corporate environment, chances are good that you’ve heard about the SMART goal system and used it for project planning purposes.
Goal Setting Tips: Where to Start
My husband and I spent New Year’s Eve with our youngest son. As a young man with a new wife and in the early stages of his career, he naturally has a huge list of goals for the coming year – so many that it’s hard to know what to tackle first or how he’ll ever be able to accomplish them! When I mentioned SMART goals to him, he immediately understood what I was talking about. He uses SMART goals on work projects all the time, but hadn’t considered applying SMART goals to his personal goals.
As I told him, SMART goals are just as effective on a personal level as they are on a project level. And they’re probably a lot more fun because you’ll be making progress on the goals that are most important to you.
The bottom line of this post is that making SMART goals is exponentially more effective than making resolutions. I can vouch for that personally. They’re also a lot more fun!
So, how can you start making your own SMART goals?
My free Goal Setting Workbook, updated for 2019 with more examples, information, and tips will help you create SMART goals that will get your year off to a great start!
Whatever it is you’d like to accomplish in 2019, the first step on the road to making it happen might begin by requesting the 2019 Goal Setting Worksheet to create your own set of SMART goals. Sign up below.
I’ve already made my SMART goals for 2019. A few of the SMART goals I’ve created include action plans to finish TWO big writing projects, run another triathlon (but in a faster time!), take a special trip with a family member, and read several classic books.
Your Turn
Enough about me! Let’s talk about you!
Where would you like to see yourself one year from now?
Would you like to lose weight? Find a better job? Improve your marriage? Grow in your faith? Read more books? Downsize your home? Take a special trip?
All of these are totally legitimate – and totally doable – goals for the coming year. Just remember you need to outline actionable steps to achieve success. Otherwise it will be 2020 and we will still be having the same conversation.
Don’t just endeavor to lose weight. Find a new workout plan. Meet with a nutritionist or stick with a new healthy diet. Buy a new pair of kicks to motivate you. Track your progress. Hold yourself accountable. And better yet, bring along a girlfriend who can hold you accountable as well.
My point is, set yourself up for success. Achieving goals isn’t for sissies. It’s hard work. But with the right plan and SMART goals, you can do this! I know you can!
Happy New Year, my fierce friend. I can’t wait to see what we’re going to accomplish this year!
The post Goal Setting Tips: Looking Forward for an Amazing Year appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
January 7, 2019
Asian Pear Salad with Basil, Toasted Almonds and Creamy Ginger Dressing
I don’t know about you, but the holidays have left me feeling like a partridge in a pear tree. And not in a good way.
With all kinds of health and wellness goals and resolutions circling around social media this days, I decided I would join in on the fun and make a healthy salad that actually tasted good.
One that I would actually look forward to making again and again instead of it serving as a repentant, guild-laden, self-inflicted punishment following the fattening flurry of gingersnaps and eggnog and cheesy green chile casseroles and homemade ravioli (more on that later!).
I know what you’re thinking. Salad can never be as good as gingersnaps.
You might be right.
Actually, I’m certain you are.
But one thing is for certain, salad (not gingersnaps!!!) helps me reach my goals for the year.
Eating healthy greens makes me feel a lot better! This is real nourishment, right here.
So I give you this delightfully crisp salad, perfect for January and new beginnings. The homemade dressing is tart and sweet with a pop of ginger that goes perfectly with the pears.
Any pear could be used but I happened upon these very plump and very pleasing asian pears at the store.
Here’s what they look like.
They actually look more like apples and are crunchier than your normal Bosc or Bartlett variety. Any pear will do here. Just choose something seasonal and crisp.
Here’s the salad I’ll be eating all winter.
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a.tasty-recipes-print-button {
color: #fff; }
a.tasty-recipes-print-button:hover {
color: #fff; }
.tasty-recipes-rating.tasty-recipes-clip-10 {
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clip-path: polygon(0 0, 10% 0%, 10% 100%, 0% 100%); }
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margin: 0;
padding: 0; }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul:after {
display: block;
content: ' ';
clear: both; }
.tasty-recipes-nutrition li {
float: left;
margin-right: 1em; }
.tasty-recipes-plug {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 1em;
display: -ms-flexbox;
display: flex;
-ms-flex-align: center;
align-items: center;
-ms-flex-pack: center;
justify-content: center; }
.tasty-recipes-plug a {
text-decoration: none;
box-shadow: none; }
.tasty-recipes-plug a img {
width: 150px;
height: auto;
margin: 5px 0 0 8px;
display: inline-block; }
@media print {
.tasty-recipes-no-print,
.tasty-recipes-no-print * {
display: none !important; } }
.tasty-recipes {
border: 5px solid #666677;
margin-top: 6em;
margin-bottom: 4em;
}
.tasty-recipes.tasty-recipes-has-plug {
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-plug {
margin-bottom: 4em;
}
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}
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}
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color: #FFF;
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padding-left: 2.5em;
padding-right: 2.5em;
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}
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float: none;
text-align: center;
transform: translateY(-115px);
margin-bottom: 1em; /* Decide if we need this */
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image img {
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-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
border: 5px solid #666677;
height: 150px;
width: 150px;
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font-weight: 400;
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color: #FFF;
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padding-bottom: 0;
}
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margin-top: -115px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header hr {
border: 1px solid #B7BBC6;
background-color: #B7BBC6;
margin-bottom: 1em;
margin-top: 1em;
}
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}
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}
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font-size: 1.375em;
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}
.tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-rating p {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
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margin-left: .25em;
margin-right: .25em;
color: #FFF;
}
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color: #B7BBC6;
font-size: .6875em;
display: block;
}
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margin-top: 1em;
}
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margin: 0;
}
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margin-right: .5em;
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line-height: 1.75em;
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height: 1em;
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line-height: 2.5em;
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}
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color: #B7BBC6;
margin-right: .125em;
}
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margin-right: .2em;
display: inline-block;
}
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padding-top: 1.25em;
}
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margin-left: 1.25em;
margin-right: 1.25em;
}
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content: " ";
display: block;
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float: left;
box-sizing: border-box;
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.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-buttons a {
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padding-bottom: 1em;
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}
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background-color: #979599;
text-decoration: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-buttons img {
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}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-buttons img.svg-print,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-buttons img.svg-pinterest {
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margin-bottom: 0;
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padding-left: .625em;
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}
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width: 100%;
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}
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margin-bottom: 1.5em;
margin-top: 1.5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content hr {
background-color: #EAE9EB;
border: 1px solid #EAE9EB;
margin-top: 1em;
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-description,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords {
padding-left: 1.25em;
padding-right: 1.25em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-description p {
margin-bottom: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul,
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margin-left: 0;
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
padding: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li {
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position: relative;
margin-left: 2.5em;
line-height: 1.46;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li:before,
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height: .5em;
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top: .375em;
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.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol,
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}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol li {
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position: relative;
margin-bottom: 1em;
margin-left: 2.5em;
line-height: 1.46;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol li:before,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol li:before {
content:counter(li);
counter-increment: li;
position: absolute;
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height: 1.45em;
width: 1.45em;
color: #FFF;
left: -1.25em;
transform: translateX(-50%);
line-height: 1.5em;
font-size: .6875em;
text-align: center;
top: .1875em;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol {
margin-left: 0;
}
}
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padding: 1.25em;
background-color: #EDF0F2;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol {
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padding: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
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padding-left: 1.5625em;
padding-right: 1.5625em;
padding-top: 1.25em;
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
position: relative;
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clip-path: polygon(20px 0, 100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%, 0 20px);
margin-bottom: 1.5em;
}
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.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
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padding-left: 2.5em;
}
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content: "i";
display: block;
background-color: #666677;
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-moz-border-radius: 50%;
border-radius: 50%;
height: 1.3em;
width: 1.3em;
font-size: .75em;
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text-align: center;
color: #FFF;
position: absolute;
left: 1.167em;
top: 1.9em;
}
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position: absolute;
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height: 1.45em;
width: 1.45em;
color: #FFF;
left: 2em;
transform: translateX(-50%);
line-height: 1.5em;
font-size: .6875em;
text-align: center;
top: 2em;
}
}
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}
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padding-bottom: 1em;
padding-top: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords p {
font-size: 0.7em;
font-style: italic;
color: #979599;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-keywords p span {
font-weight: bold;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrifox {
text-align: center;
margin: 0;
}
.nutrifox-label {
background-color: #EDF0F2;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrifox iframe {
width: 100%;
display: block;
margin: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-nutrition {
padding: 1.25em;
color: #666677;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrition .tasty-recipes-label {
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color: #B7BBC6;
margin-right: .125em;
font-weight: 400;
}
.tasty-recipes-nutrition ul {
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}
.tasty-recipes-nutrition li {
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line-height: 2em;
}
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background-color: #666677;
padding-top: 1.5625em;
padding-bottom: 1.25em;
padding-left: 2.5em;
padding-right: 2.5em;
text-align: center;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer .tasty-recipes-footer-content {
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}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer img {
width: 65px;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3 {
color: #B7BBC6;
font-size: 1.25em;
line-height: 2.25em;
margin-top: .5em;
margin-bottom: .125em;
padding: 0;
line-height: 1em;
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.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p {
margin-bottom: 0;
color: #FFF;
font-size: .75em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p a {
color: #FFF;
text-decoration: underline;
box-shadow: none;
border-bottom: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer:after {
content: " ";
display: block;
clear:both;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3 {
margin-top: .5em;
margin-bottom: .5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer {
text-align: center;
}
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 520px) {
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer img {
float: left;
}
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer h3,
.tasty-recipes-entry-footer p {
margin-left: 90px;
clear: none;
text-align: left;
}
}
/* Print view styles */
.tasty-recipes-print-view {
font-size: 11px;
background-color: #fff;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes-print-button {
display: inline-block;
}
.tasty-recipes-print {
padding:0;
font-size: 11px;
}
.tasty-recipes-print-view .tasty-recipes {
margin-top: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header {
background-color: inherit;
color: inherit;
padding-bottom: 0;
padding-left: 1em;
padding-right: 1em;
padding-top: 1em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-image {
float: right;
transform: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print.tasty-recipes-has-image .tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
margin-top: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header h2 {
color: inherit;
margin-bottom: .5em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header hr {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header span.tasty-recipes-rating {
color: #000;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul {
padding: 0;
clear: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details ul li {
line-height: 1.5em;
color: #000;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-header .tasty-recipes-details .detail-icon {
display: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content img {
max-width: 50%;
height: auto;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol li {
margin-bottom: 0.25em;
line-height: 1.1;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol li {
margin-bottom: 0.5em;
line-height: 1.1;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ul li:before,
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ul li:before {
top: 0.3em;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-ingredients ol li:before,
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-instructions ol li:before {
top: 0;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p,
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li,
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ol li {
padding-top: 0;
padding-bottom: 0;
background-color: #EDF0F2;
clip-path: none;
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes p:before,
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-content .tasty-recipes-notes ul li:before {
top: 0;
clip-path: none;
margin-bottom: 0.5em;
}
@media print {
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-entry-footer img {
display: none;
}
}
.tasty-recipes-print .tasty-recipes-source-link {
text-align: center;
}
Asian Pear Salad with Basil, Toasted Almonds and Creamy Ginger Dressing
Author: Marie Bostwick
Prep Time: 10 Total Time: 10 Category: saladsPrint Recipe Pin RecipeDescription
This salad makes two entree size salads that I’ll be serving with my zero point chicken chili or 4 smaller side salads.
I found all of these ingredients at my local grocery store. The sesame oil and rice vinegar can be found on the Asian section at your local store. I found the OrganicGirl protein greens at Whole Foods. It has fancy pea shoots in it and 5 grams of protein per serving. Greens with protein? What a time to be alive! 
Ingredients
For the salad:
6 to 8 cups mixed greens of your choice. I used OrganicGirl protein greens.
2/3 cup fresh basil, julienned
2 asian pears or other variety of your choice, peeled and thinly sliced
1 shallot, minced
1/4 cup toasted almonds
For the Ginger Dressing:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup olive oil
2 TBS rice vinegar
2 TBS sesame oil
juice of one lime
two pinches of sugar
pinch of kosher salt
one-inch piece of peeled fresh ginger
1 clove garlic
Instructions
For the dressing, put all ingredients into a food processor and whirl it into frothy perfection.
For the salad, throw it all in a bowl. Dress. Toss. Serve. You know what to do, fierce friend!
Notes
Avocados would be a great addition to this salad for a little extra richness!
Keywords: pear salad
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @fiercebeyond50 on Instagram and hashtag it #fiercebeyond50
The post Asian Pear Salad with Basil, Toasted Almonds and Creamy Ginger Dressing appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
January 3, 2019
Goal Setting Tips: The Nine Things You Need to Make 2019 Your Fiercest Year Yet
This time of year is such a special time. It’s a natural restart button. And the perfect opportunity to look back at what you accomplished this past year and look forward to new challenges.
It’s fresh. It smells like new baby.
But how do we take advantage of this time when we are so on fire for change and improvement and new beginnings? How to we keep pushing forward and keep our sights on our goals?
Let’s recap.
You’ve evaluated your accomplishments this past year. Your sights are set on new goals. You’ve written them down. You’ve made each goal actionable. And you’ve been honest with yourself. Great job, Fierce friend! You are rocking 2019 already!
Sometimes (not all the time, be honest with yourself) but sometimes those resolutions need a little help getting started. Once again, I’m here to help.
Here are a few resources that will help you start of the new year with a bang, regardless of what your goals are.
Ready, set, go!
Get Your Sweat On
I don’t know about you, but a brand new pair of athletic shoes has me *wanting* to lace them up and head round the block! These are fun and so cushiony! I have this same pair in purple. Bright purple. The shade of purple that demands to be noticed but doesn’t match any of the cute workout wear I just bought from Athleta. Pro tip: Consider something neutral!
Do Something That Scares You
For me, that is surviving a class at Barre3 (more on this later.) For you this might be a swimming class, or a spin class, or Zumba, or one of those super millennial hip hop dance fitness classes that look like a music video. The beauty of using ClassPass is that you can try out all kinds of new fitness activities without committing to one certain fitness class. It’s also a great way to shake up your regular workout routine. Find something you’ve been intimidated by and show it you are strong, you are courageous, and you are fierce! 
Put Your Best Face Forward
The number one thing my dermatologist recommends more than any other fancy skincare line or pricey procedure is Cerave Moisturizer with SPF on face, neck and tops of hands. Every. Single. Day. This option from Cerave is affordable and accessible. You can pick it up at your local pharmacy or supermarket. Or you can order it from Amazon. You have no excuse to skip this important step in self preservation!
Discover the Balance You Crave
It was my New Year’s Resolution last year. So you’ve probably heard of me sing the praises of the Living Well Spending Less planner. If you missed that part, it’s been a critical part of my success this year. It’s been the straight-talking life coach, the cheerleader, the drill sergeant, and the inspirational speaker I needed throughout the year as I finished a book, launched a blog, hit my goal weight, finished my first triathlon, to name a few. I’ve been busy. This planner helps me set and achieve my goals without pulling my hair out, and it keeps me accountable along the way.
Start Each New Day Strong
One of the best ways to set a strong foundation is to start each day in devotion. In fact, the one thing I do each morning that makes each day better is spending time in prayer. I can’t get enough of this beautiful devotional, or the combination of the devotional and bible. There are beautiful illustrations on each page that make the age-old wisdom seem even more inspired!
Learn Something New
Try Bluprint Unlimited (which used to be Craftsy) and find your new passion. Whether your goal is to be the world’s next Cake Boss, start quilting, or learn to build an artisanal table, Bluprint has you covered. As a side note, if you aren’t a quilter, you really, really should give it a try! I’m not biased or anything, I just think quilts work magic. That is all.
Stop Drinking Cold Coffee
You’re dedicating a lot of time and energy to your goals this year, you don’t have time to deal with cold coffee. I’m joking…kind of. These insulated coffee mugs will keep your hot beverages hot and with all the colors they come in, one will be perfect for you! Pretty sure this solves two universal problems at once: bright colors reduce time spent wandering house looking for coffee cup and clever technology ensures that even if you get distracted with one of the 1,000 things on your to do list, your piping hot coffee will still be waiting for you, cheering you on.
Take Time for Yourself
If you’ve spent much time here, you know I love books and you also probably know hard it can be to make time for reading. If one of your goals for this year is taking more time for yourself, reading is a great way to do that. Maybe 2019 is the year to try Audible and listen to more audiobooks on the go! The link is good for a free trial and a little birdie told me you can even find Marie Bostwick books on there!
Take Control of Your Health
I know everyone talks about getting healthy for the new year. We need a little less conversation and a lot more action. Don’t just talk about eating better. Do something proactive! These at-home sensitivity kits from EverlyWell are a fun place to start (well, they are fun except you have to prick your finger). If you have chronic conditions like brain fog, inflammation, low energy or even ongoing sinus issues, sometimes a food sensitivity is to blame. But it can be so hard to pinpoint exactly what it is, whether its dairy or gluten or legumes or wine or cabbage. That’s why these kits are so great – they actually test your body’s reaction to 96 different foods! Think of it as a personalized way to see what your body needs. And what your body doesn’t need.
What are you goals for the New Year? I wish you success in every endeavor!
The post Goal Setting Tips: The Nine Things You Need to Make 2019 Your Fiercest Year Yet appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
December 31, 2018
Goal Setting Tips: Looking Backward
If you’ve been following this blog for any amount of time, you know I am a big believer in the power and importance of goal setting. There’s no better time to think through your goals than when getting ready to kick off a new year.
Please note: I’m not talking about making resolutions but about setting goals. There is a big difference!
RESOLUTIONS VERSUS GOALS
More often than not, making a resolution involves little more than throwing out some vague idea regarding how you’d like to do better in the coming year and hoping it will kind of, sort of, magically work.
Goal setting involves taking time to seriously consider what you want to accomplish and then coming up with a real plan to make it happen. Setting goals means coming up with an action plan that involves specific steps, strategies, and timelines for completion. It’s an activity I take very seriously and invest quite a bit of time in.
Why? Because it works!
To quote an oft-repeated bit of wisdom that I’m confident was penned by a wise woman over 50, “a goal without a plan is just a wish.”
But, as I was recently reminded, before you start looking ahead and making plans for the coming year, you’re smart to pause and look back at the old year.
LEARNING FROM MY MISTAKES
One of the big advantages of life beyond 50 is the wisdom that comes from experience. But no matter how old or wise we become, there’s always room for improvement and always more to learn.
At this point, I feel like I’m pretty up to speed on the ins and outs of successful goal setting. But I recently decided to take an online course on the topic, hoping to pick up a few additional tips.
One of the ideas I found most helpful involved looking over my unmet goals for the previous year and figuring out what went wrong by conducting an AAR – After Action Review.
The military came up with After Action Reviews to help identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement after combat missions. Today, all kinds of organizations and corporations use AAR on a help drive structural improvements, but it also works well for individuals.
Conducting an AAR centers on asking and answering four simple but revealing questions:
What was expected to happen?
What actually occurred?
What went well and why?
What can be improved and how?
THE GOOD. THE BAD. THE UNPLANNED.
Responding to a prompt in my goal setting course, I looked back on my 2018 goals and assessed them according to the four questions of the AAR.
Flipping back to front section of my 2018 Living Well Planner, I read through the list of goals I’d set for myself at the start of the year. Doing so brought a smile to my face. There were so many happy little check marks on that page! I’ve really accomplished a lot this year!
Not only did I launch this blog, write a novel, run a sprint triathlon, get to my goal weight, and reconnect with a few old friends, I was also able to reach an important personal financial goal. Not bad!
However, there were also a number of unmet goals on my list. I didn’t finish a class I started, didn’t reach my hoped-for metrics in some areas of my business, didn’t read as many books as I planned to, and didn’t undertake an additional writing project I’ve been thinking about for some time now.
After conducting an AAR on each of those goals, both met and unmet, a very clear pattern started to emerge.
Almost without exception, when I reached a goal it was because I had a clear plan of action to do so, broken down into concrete steps, with clear measures of success, and timelines for completion for each step along the way.
What My Shortcomings Have in Common
My unmet goals held a common, but inverse, theme – no steps for completion, no measures for success, no timeline for completion.
In short, those unmet goals of mine had no plan of action associated with them. So you know what that made them, right?
Uh-huh. Wishes.
Hey, I’ve got nothing against wishes. Dreaming is good for the soul. But since my Fairy Godmother seems to have lost my address, making those wishes come true is all on me. And it’s not going to happen without a plan.
Food for thought as I start thinking about the new year.
Hello, 2019. I’m Ready For You.
What about you? Would you like to make 2019 better than 2018? Are you ready to invest a little time and energy to make that happen?
If so, I highly recommend looking back at your 2018 hopes, dreams, wishes, and goals (even if you didn’t write them down – you know what they are!) and conducting a personal AAR for each.
In retrospect, what I learned through the process now seems pretty obvious but it was also very enlightening and will definitely alter my approach to 2019.
Taking a time to look back at the old year is an important first step in setting goals for the new year.
We’ll talk more about that in my first post of 2019!
Until then, Happy New Year! Here’s hoping (and planning) for the best year ever!
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December 26, 2018
Make This Year Count: Setting and Achieving Financial Goals for 2019
As I’ve mentioned, financial wisdom is about as exciting to me as tapioca pudding or reading a phone book.
But it’s just so important for a woman to have a handle on her finances, especially in the years beyond 50. This past year, my husband and I have put this at the top of our to do list.
My search for financial wisdom promptly delivered me to the buy button on Amazon for Peggy Doviak’s 52 Weeks to Prosperity – Ask Peggy Doviak: What Your Accountant, Banker, Broker & Financial Adviser Might Not Tell You.
This book is awesome. It’s simple and easy to understand It offers actionable plans. It sets you up for success.
You probably remember Peggy showering us with wisdom in her recent posts about when we can afford to retire and how to curb holiday spending. These happen to be two of our most popular blogs on the site! And for good reason. They are just chocked full of nuggets of wisdom.
Financial Resolutions for 2019
The day after Christmas can be a little depressing. The last gift has been opened, the last Hallmark movie watched, and the cat finally has free rein over the Christmas tree. But don’t be sad. The holidays aren’t over yet. New Year’s Eve is only a week away with all the hope and promise of a brand-new beginning.
Are you making any New Year’s resolutions? If you are, do any of them involve your money? If so, you’re in good company. Common New Year’s resolutions include paying off debt and saving more. Unfortunately, our resolutions, money or otherwise, tend not to fare very well. In fact, 35% of us will have given up by the end of January. Most of the rest of us aren’t far behind.
Why are we so good at making resolutions and so bad at keeping them? I think it’s because we unknowingly set ourselves up for failure. I want to give you some tips to help you specifically with your financial New Year’s resolutions.
Changing the Conversation
First, change how you talk about your plan for 2019. Don’t say, “I’m not good at money, but I’m going to try to spend less this year.” Do you hear what you’re saying? “I can’t do it, but I’m going to try.” Don’t start your resolution by explaining why you won’t be able to succeed. Instead, clearly state that you are going to save money, and end your sentence there.
I think we run ourselves down for a couple of reasons. First, we provide our excuses at the same time we make our resolutions. That way, if we don’t succeed, we’ve already explained away the failure. But I believe there’s another reason, as well. Most of the time, our New Year’s resolutions are aspirational, and we honestly have no idea how to keep them.
But don’t despair—we can fix that. Let’s start by temporarily changing the terminology from “resolution” to “goal.” Good financial goals have three components. They are very specific, they have a dollar value associated with them, and they have a time horizon.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Here’s an example of an ineffective goal. “My plan for 2019 is to have plenty of money in retirement.” Sounds good, right? Who doesn’t want that? But here are the problems.
To begin, you don’t define when you want to retire. The steps you need to take are very different if you want to retire at 55 or at 70. Additionally, how much money is “plenty of money”? You will need to do some cash flow work to decide how much money you will need each month. Once you know your amount and your time horizon, you and your CFP® pro can determine how much you need to save each month to meet your goal. That amount of monthly savings then becomes your New Year’s resolution: “In 2019, I want to save (fill in your calculated amount) each month, so I can retire at age 65 with 90% of my current income.”
Doubling Down on Debt
Maybe your resolution is to pay down some debt. Again, this is a great idea, but you need to be specific. First, be sure that you are not incurring additional debt and if you are, try to get that under control. Next, look at your cash flow and decide how much money you can apply to your existing debt each month. Then, make that your New Year’s resolution: “In 2019, I won’t increase my current debt level, and I will lower it each month by the accrued interest plus $50.”
See how the two modified goals give you a specific game plan? Those are resolutions you can measure and know you have been successful!
It’s likely that you have more than one financial goal, so you might be considering several resolutions. Be careful if you decide to get overly ambitious. You already know you have limited financial resources, and you don’t want to stretch yourself too thin and set yourself up for failure. It’s possible that you will need to complete some goals first and then others later. Additionally, keeping your current financial situation reasonable carries major benefits.
Be Realistic
You need to maintain enough monthly cash flow to pay your obligations and bills and keep a little spending money, in addition to achieving your financial resolutions. It’s rarely a good idea to make a general proclamation like, “I will never eat out again,” or “I will shop with a list and never buy anything that I didn’t write down.” Although your statements sound good, they aren’t realistic. As soon as you decide you will only take your lunch to the office, you’ll get a call from a friend you haven’t seen in years. Your pal is in town for just one day, and she wants to have lunch with you.
I hope you say yes because staying in contact with old friends makes us prosperous. If you take your lunch the other four days that week, you will be much better off than you would if you ate out each day. However, if you have vowed never to eat out again, you may feel like a failure after lunch. That feeling may translate into extra spending at the grocery store that night on your way home from work. Or maybe you don’t bother making your lunch again that week. Your guilt for the original purchase tends to translate to more spending.
Be Kind to Yourself
To help you keep any financial goal, don’t beat yourself up if something goes wrong. Just put it behind you, and try again the next day.
Additionally, maintain a little spending money that you can use for anything you want. That way, you don’t go off track! The amount will be a directly related your financial situation.
Speaking of going off track, what happens when it’s May, and your New Year’s resolution is lying in a heap? Your plan sounded great back in January, and for a while, you saw a path to success. But now, summer is approaching, and you know you are so far behind that you couldn’t possibly get there. It’s okay; don’t give up. I want you to pretend that you are seven days from the beginning of the year. Use that time to review your information and revisit your resolutions.
Be Honest with Yourself
Be really honest with yourself. Why do you think you weren’t successful back in January? Maybe you stalled somewhere in the goal-planning process. Maybe your goal was just too much of a financial stretch. Or maybe life got in the way. It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to judge you, and I don’t want you to judge your partner or yourself. I want you to try again. If saving the amount you calculated was too difficult, then try to save half. If another goal with a higher priority has arisen, address that one, but still try to make some progress toward your original ideas. I know that this solution is not going to keep you on track for the path you calculated in January. But after talking to many individuals, I’ve learned something. When people feel overwhelmed, they don’t take any action at all. Even though you may not be saving as much as your plan recommended, you’re still moving in the right direction. You’re in better shape than you were last year. Half of financial success is just not giving up. You can do this. And your efforts will help make 2019 your best financial year ever!
About the Author
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTMpractitioner, Peggy Doviak, knows how stressful money can be. Her fifteen years as a financial planner and a national speaker to both financial professionals and consumers have convinced her that most people fear their money. That’s why she wrote 52 Weeks to Prosperity – Ask Peggy Doviak: What Your Accountant, Banker, Broker & Financial Adviser Might Not Tell You. In it, she addresses 52 financial planning topics to enable individuals to become comfortable with the vocabulary and issues of their financial lives, so they can participate in the planning process with a professional. Learn more about Peggy on her website, www.peggydoviak.com.
The post Make This Year Count: Setting and Achieving Financial Goals for 2019 appeared first on Fierce Beyond 50.
