My Workout Leggings ||?My Sneakers (Multiple Styles)

**Update: Here are the winners of our 4 DietBet entries: Alejandra Martinez, Britney B., Siobhan Mckenna, and Shelby Lindsay. We replied to your comments with the info on how to claim your free entry, so go check them right now! You have 24 hours to reply. Congratulations!

Out with the old, in with the NEW! It is officially a New Year…which in my book means a New Rear, a new chapter in this book called Life, and a New YOU. While the possibilities are always bright and endless, there is something about the thought of a fresh start that will give us the kick in the pants we need to get moving on our dreams and goals AND to help our little family members reach their dreams and goals as well.

Since “weight loss”? is the number one New Year’s Resolution each year, I felt it was only appropriate to pair Goal Setting and Resolution Q&A with a chance to win a FREE entry to our DietBet so you can give yourself the kick start you need to reach those goals once and for all!?So just for you?all of my thoughts, crazy ideas, and New Year’s rituals in one post. And if you’re here JUST for the FREE DietBet entry, you can do one of two things: 1. Scroll immediately to the bottom and enter, or 2. Read my New Year, New You Rituals below that just may indeed inspire you to actually?stick to your Resolutions this year!

Questions I’m asked go something like this…

Q: RITUALS: Do you have anything you do at the?end of one year and the beginning?of the next?

A: Yes! Because I try NOT to just rely on New Year?s Resolutions to get my buns in gear, I focus my efforts throughout the year on keeping the resolutions/goals made the previous year. And when I fall (because we all do), I get back up and start again. Fall down 7 times, get up 8?and you win.

BUT, that being said, at the end of each year?on New Year?s Eve, actually?our family and friends gather at our home to discuss how the last year went, and we talk about what we?d like to change for the upcoming year. We then write our thoughts and resolutions (as many or as little as we would like) on lanterns that we light and send up into the sky at midnight. By doing this, we are, in essence, sending our intentions out to the universe. We are making commitments to something so much bigger than ourselves because we all know that silent commitments are broken promises waiting to happen. Not only do we rely on our friends and family around us to hold us accountable, but we know the universe (and God) is watching and cheering us on too.

One of the coolest parts of this ritual is helping the kids participate. They seem so young (ours are 11 all the way down to 3), but they are never too little to start making small promises to themselves. And what better time than the New Year!

Along with the end of each year comes Christmas break. I will not let Christmas break happen without a DEEP clean of my home. Like, I mean purge 90% of our belongings and the kids? toys!!! Not only is this making space for what?s to come, but it?s also necessary that we declutter our lives. A messy home filled with too many possessions equates to a messy mind filled with too much chaos.. I?ve never been a ?keeping up with the Jones’ type,? so I?m trying to teach my kids the same. Less is MORE!!! And by forcing ourselves to focus on the basics?on our human needs, really?we are able to keep our paths and spaces clear into the New Year for all of the wonderful opportunities and things to come. It?s hard for ?new? to find its way into your life when you have SO MUCH ?old? taking up space.

This doesn?t only go for material possessions?this goes for intangible things as well: goals, feelings, emotions, etc.

Motivational Decorations || Gold Stripe Journal || Love Sweater (Similar Here)

Q: How do you approach the New Year??

A: Chris and I take time to reflect on the past year and dream about the new year to come. We do this individually, as a couple, as a family, and with friends and those we coach. We KNOW the value of having goals and setting a plan to implement those goals. Just as an organization requires weekly, monthly, and annual meetings to ensure goals are being reached and everyone is on task, we need them personally, as a couple, and as a family as well. If we don?t know where we want to go (and evaluate it often), we?ll spend our days and years spinning our wheels and becoming aimlessly busy. What a waste!!!

In all of these settings, we reflect on these questions:

• What did we do well in the past year?
• What could we have done better?
• Did we reach the goals for the year?
• Are we on track to reach our goals that spanned beyond the year?
• If so, what do we need to do next year to stay on track?
• If not, why? Where did we go wrong?
• What lessons did we learn from our failures this last year?
• What lessons did we learn from our successes?
• How are we behaving in our lives, both personally and as family members? What needs to change?
• Is our family unit and marriage in a healthy place?
• Are we living up to our potential? Or could we do better?
• Are we living in a way that we can be proud of ourselves when we are on our deathbeds?
• What NEW goals do we have for the upcoming year?
• What is it going to take to reach them?
• How can we help those around us reach their goals as well?

Rag & Bone Shoes?||?J Brand Tank (Similar Here)

Q: How do you figure out what’s working and what needs to go in your crazy busy life?

A:?By asking myself (and each other) the questions above, we can get a pretty good idea of what needs work in our lives. But also, as?a busy working mother of 4, I can usually tell on a daily basis what needs to change just by acknowledging where my biggest stresses are coming from. If I feel a pit in my stomach constantly for a couple of days, I know it?s time to identify where it is stemming from and figure out how (or if) I can change it.

Also, ANY TIME our family unit has a disconnected feeling, and/or one of the kiddos seems to be struggling in life or at school, I KNOW it?s time for me to take a step back and re-prioritize. It?s too dang easy for us to get caught up in the minutia of life and to keep our heads down working so hard for our family?s future. Because of this, I will often miss out on what is happening right in front of me. As much as I hate to admit it, it can take a struggle or a challenge to remind me to get my head up where it needs to be. Accomplishing dreams is important, but nothing is more important than giving the kids the love they need to accomplish their dreams and live a happy life.

Q: What are some of the tools and tips you use to?set your goals each year?

A: I make SMART goals each year. To be a SMART goal, each goal must have these five components:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Time-bound

As long as the goal fits into this framework, and it?s not ambiguous, it?s fair game in my book. In an effort to help the kids reach their own goals, I try to encourage them down the same goal setting path.

The ONE thing I would add to this is that the goals we choose MUST be something we are passionate about. If passion doesn?t exist, the goal will not be reached. End of story.

My Workout Top || My Workout Leggings ||?Artland Oasis 2-Gallon Water Pitcher || Contigo 32 oz. Water Bottle?||?Jogger Pants (Similar Here)

Q: How do you advise your clients (ME)?in this regard?

A: I actually give them?or you?the same goal setting guidelines! It?s important that we set goals, but we must set goals that are smart AND that can be accomplished. Now this doesn?t mean we shouldn?t set scary goals. We DEFINITELY should!!!!! Setting goals that pull you out of your comfort zone will nudge you to begin living the life you deserve, not the life you feel stuck with. I also encourage people to track their progress on a regular basis. Ask yourself every week if you are doing what you need to do to reach your goal. If you are not, make adjustments and keep moving. Put one foot in front of the other, never give up, and you WILL reach your goal!

Q: What is Dietbet? And how can I win a FREE entry?? **Giveaway is closed**

A: Ahhh, I knew you would ask! ;)?If you?re not familiar with how DietBet works, it?s simple: Bet $30 on THE MOST important person (you, of course!), lose 4% of your body weight in 30 days, and split the pot (which is continually growing, BTW) with all of the other winners. Awesome, right? It?s like getting paid to lose weight! Get all the deets here. And here?s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment below and tell me about one of your New Year?s Resolutions. And to make it really real, tell me one promise you?re going to make to yourself to help you achieve this goal!
2. Make sure you?re following me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and then like this post on any of my channels. You can even share it if you feel so inclined. 😉
3. You have until midnight, Wednesday, January 4th, to enter, and winners will be announced and notified?on Thursday, January 5th. Don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to play AND win!!

Some of my favorite fitness finds for the New Year:

Happy New Year!

Xoxo,

Heidi

Related reading:

Reignite Your Fire to Achieve Your Goals!
Transformation Tip: Accountability Calendar
5 Steps to a Powerful, No Fail, New Year?and Beyond
How SMART Are Your Goals?
Stressed Out?
It Really Is All About the Promise