Why I'm giving up drinking for 365 days

For most of my life, New Year’s resolutions didn’t work for me. I always set too many goals, which meant I quickly lost focus and the goals never “stuck.” That changed in 2019.

After gaining 30 pounds from living on airplanes and in hotel rooms, I knew I needed to make a change. It wasn’t just about weight gain: I felt the worst I had ever felt, externally and internally. I could hardly motivate myself to get out of bed and brush my teeth. I lacked confidence in my relationship. I found myself with more negative thoughts than positive ones. I wasn’t the leader I wanted to be. I didn’t feel like me. I had failed to make my physical and mental health a priority, and it was affecting every single area of my life.

Instead of setting my usual handful of resolutions, I decided to focus on only one goal for the year: To get my mind, body, and spirit the healthiest we’d ever been. I knew that if I could achieve that one goal, it would have the largest ripple effect—on my relationships, my family, my team, my business, my work, and most importantly, myself.

Laser-focusing on one big goal helped me keep it front and center. I began by working out every day for at least 20 minutes. Once that became a habit, I focused on my sleep. Once that became a habit, I focused on eating cleaner, then drinking more water, then meditating, and then practicing gratitude. Now, here we are at the end of 2019. I have lots of new healthy habits, and I’m proud to say I’ve lost the 30 pounds and then some. But what I’m most proud of is that I feel the best I’ve ever felt. Mission accomplished.

There’s something about this that worked: Choosing the goal that will have the largest positive impact on my life and laser-focusing on it. I’ve decided to do the same as I go into 2020. My goal for this year: Alcohol-free for 365 days.

There are a few reasons I’ve chosen this goal, but my intention is not to push my beliefs onto you. I don’t want my goals to become your goals; I want you to understand the thoughts that go into setting a goal so that you can set one that you are excited about.

Here are the reasons I’m doing an alcohol-free challenge:

• When I have even one glass of wine, my productivity goes down and I get tired.
• I know that alcohol isn’t healthy for my body. I feel foggy and bloated, and I question why I put things into my body that don’t make me feel good. I know that this goal will have the largest positive impact on my health. 
• I have started to look more closely at the role of alcohol in my social interactions. I know that I have often felt more confident with a drink, but I would like to give myself the chance to learn how to be confident in social settings without it.
• Many people I admire, like Brené Brown, do not drink. I’d like to see what it’s all about.
• I know this challenge will teach me that I am capable of discipline, something I have led myself to believe that I lack. I am excited to prove the false narrative wrong in all areas of my life.

Will this be hard? Yes. Just as challenging as the goal I set for 2019. But I know I can do it. I’m also a big believer that when you know you want to set a goal, don’t wait until January 1st. Just start! I am currently one month into my challenge with 11 months to go. Woohoo!

What about you? As you go into 2020, what is one goal you can focus on that will have the largest positive impact on your life? When it comes to goals, remember quality over quantity. 

Here’s to making 2020 our year!

Big hugs,

Kristen

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