Ambitions For The New Year

A new year brings a sense of hope and is a great incentive to give some focus to change.

We reached out asking members of the GigRower community to share their ambitions for 2024. 

“My goal for 2024 is to become a level 3 personal trainer and start training people to become the best physical versions of themselves.” 

“To do well at the Hayle U14 championships” 

“To race more! And get chosen to compete in the A crew” 

“To get back in a boat after ACL reconstruction” 

“To improve membership opportunities for all rowers & youth” 

Setting a resolution at this time of year is a popular tradition, however setting a goal and more specifically, being able to achieve it can sometimes be a daunting prospect.

We called on the expertise of Nutritional Therapist and Eating Psychology Coach, Mel Martin to advise us how to sustainably achieve our ambitions. Mel’s professional focus is to help empower people to make better choices in terms of their diet and lifestyle in order to promote the most vibrant and healthiest versions of themselves. 

Mel explains that before setting any goals, it is really important to look at the underlying causes of the things that you want to change or improve. She explains that if you can remain clear about your reasons for wanting to make a change or understand your determination to achieve something, it will act as your anchor.

“It can be more powerful to remember ‘why’ you are putting yourself through periods of change, particularly when it gets tough. If you understand your ‘why’, it’s actually more motivating than having one set goal.”

Mel shared her top tips on how to find your ‘why’ and make it into something achievable:

1. Start with a brainstorm. Go away and revisit it, repeat this process and refine it each time. It may require you to peel away a few layers before you actually find it. Research shows you will have an emotional response when you find it.
2. If you haven’t got any ambitions, that’s okay. Just sit down with a sheet of paper and take a moment to consider where you are currently and then see if there’s anything worth changing or achieving. Ask yourself what’s your best hope? What will you notice that will be different about yourself or your life in the future?
3. One of the most important things about finding a ‘why’ is that you allow yourself to keep it flexible and realise it will change. It’s really useful to set yourself time sensitive achievements so that you have short term, mid term and long term aspirations. Change is gradual most of the time, so finding a way of mapping or reading it is really important.
4. Managing expectations is a really important part of the process. Have a think about whether your ambitions are realistic, this is a key part to success.
5. Remember that change is an uncomfortable process, refer to your ‘why’ to stay accountable and feel motivated.
6. Be kind to yourself.

Whatever your ambitions for 2024, gig rowing is a great way to start the New Year! 

For further advice and support book a free 15 consultation with Mel by visiting her website or contacting her via email at mel@melmartinnutrition.com.