Monday Briefing 20th January: Miracles

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At the opening of each term, I insist upon leading the opening assembly to all year groups. It sets the tone for the next few weeks of work to come, and gives a clear message about the priorities for the weeks ahead.

 

My message to the students at the beginning of the Spring Term was based around New Year’s Resolutions, which, normally, are not something I sign up to. Usually, I brush off these as piecemeal attempts to change oneself at a point in time where, naturally, a start of a new year rarely means a new chapter commences in the life of anyone. 

 

My view in the past has always been a case of ‘why delay something until January 1st that you can start today?’ and I would keep such a plan in place.

 

New Year’s Resolutions can, however, represent more than just a meaningless target set to make one feel that one is making progress. It can be a valuable exercise in target setting – for anyone who has trouble with holding themselves to account.

 

Of course, by the time you read this, beyond the midpoint in January, the majority of people who made resolutions, 80% according to statistical analysis, will have jettisoned these plans. Most who did so sought a new way to improve their health, wealth or wellbeing, or perhaps were trying to get rid of those habits they considered to be the worst characteristics of themselves.

 

Whether these plans were realistic or not, and many set completely unrealistic goals, they tend to fail due to a lack of time or motivation: a failure to grasp why they are actually being taken on.

 

As with any assembly, explaining to the students one’s personal connection to the message of the presentation is critical to success. I often include anecdotes from my past, recent conversations with my daughter or observations from my dealings with students to illustrate a point and to ensure that it is embedded with those in the audience.

 

This assembly was no different.

Converse to my usual approach to a new year, I am indeed taking on a resolution.

Not work related, but personal – I have signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon in late May.

 

Since COVID, I’ve been a keen runner. I’m like most people in that I’m looking to get fitter, but I’m not looking to take on anything new.

As with anything, though, I’ve always felt that if you are going to do something, you should be doing it to the very best of your ability and trying to be the best version of yourself while doing it.

I’ve run over 50 parkruns. I’m part of a running club and I run cross country races in a league for Chiltern Harriers. I’ve run seven half marathons now, both in this country and abroad. I’m really driven and ambitious to: Take on and beat my personal bests; try to succeed at new challenges; push myself to see what my limits are. 

A marathon is the next logical step.

I know there will be significant challenges: We’re talking about 42km here – the most I’ve ever run is 21; much of my early training will be in the dark or in poor weather; I’m not getting any younger.

I can’t possibly succeed in this without any help – I’ve never trained for a marathon before – so I have enlisted the help of a running App – Runna.

It has mapped out my plan, gives me notifications and encouragement, and also suggests what I will achieve if I keep to the training regime they have suggested.

It will not work miracles – rather it will guide me and my hard work.

And that’s what a target is all about: something to aim for which brings improvement rather than something to burden yourself with which brings guilt and disappointment.

In doing the assembly, I was able to draw up a very simple guide for target setting. Gladly my App will be doing most of this for me, but it works nonetheless, and will actually form the basis for our upcoming mentor/mentee meetings so that students set realistic and attainable goals where they hold themselves to account, and reward themselves accordingly for seeing them through.

The 8 rules are as follows:

Rule 1: Commit to Your Resolution

Successful resolutions start with a strong commitment to make a change. To succeed, you must believe that you can accomplish what you set out to achieve. So, keep the following points in mind, when you set them:

  • Choose resolutions that you really want to achieve, and make them positive.

Rule 2: Be Realistic

The key to achieving goals is motivation. But you risk failing if you set the bar too high.

  • Consider carefully before setting the same resolution you set last year. If it didn’t work then, you need to make sure that there is a good reason to believe that you can achieve it this year. What has changed?
  • Aim lower, rather than too high. Aim for something that is challenging, but that you have a good chance of accomplishing.
  • Don’t bite off more than you can chew. There is no reason to set more than one or two resolutions. Any more than that and you divide your focus and energy.

Rule 3: Write It Down

Put your resolution in writing. It’s a simple but powerful technique for making your goal real. There is something inside us that responds with more commitment and drive when we take the time to do this. Consider writing it down on pieces of card and keeping it where you’ll see it often. For example, on your desk, on the fridge, or in your wallet.

Rule 4: Make a Plan

  • Start by envisioning where you want to be.
  • Then work back along your path to where you are today.
  • Write down all of the milestones you’ll need to achieve in between.
  • Decide what you’ll do to accomplish each of these milestones. You need to know each step and have a plan for what comes next.

Rule 5: Be Flexible

Not everything will work out precisely the way that you planned. The first minor obstacle can throw you off course, particularly if you’re too rigid in your approach. So, remain flexible and adaptable by following these steps:

  • Try to predict some of the challenges that you’ll face. Make a contingency plan for the ones that have the highest probability of failure, and mentally prepare yourself for the others.
  • Realize that your resolution itself might change along the way. That’s not failure, it’s reality. If you need to make changes to the goal so you continue to pursue it, do so.

Rule 6: Use Reminders

It can be hard to keep focused on your plan if you have many other commitments, responsibilities and obligations. Develop a formal reminder system to stay on top of your resolution. Do this by taking the following into consideration:

  • Have your written resolutions visible. Leave reminders at work, at home, in the car, on your calendar, in your briefcase, and so on.
  • Make sure that the planned actions are on your To-Do List.

Rule 7: Track Progress

You need to know when each milestone is accomplished: your excitement around the little successes will keep you motivated and keep you pushing forwards.

  • Use a journal and make an entry regarding your progress regularly.
  • Note when you felt particularly pleased with your efforts.
  • Note when you felt down or felt like quitting.
  • Look back at your entries on a regular basis and learn from your experiences.
  • Discuss your progress with family, friends or colleagues.

Rule 8: Reward Yourself

Even the most committed person needs a boost, and sometimes that is best accomplished through a little reward or treat!

When you are developing your plan, make a note of some milestones where you will reward yourself once they are achieved. But spread them out, you want to make sure the rewards remain special and are not too easy to get!

I’ll keep you updated on my marathon training, which, incidentally, is going well. At least, that is, according to my App, which says that I’m ‘nailing it’.

Long may that continue.