It’s that time of year again! Many of you may have noticed more people at your gym or more people bringing salads into work for lunch. I always wonder how long these resolutions will last before people resort back to their normal exercise and eating habits. A friend of mine recently posted an article which challenged the method of setting resolutions. It related to finding the appropriate tools/system to attain your goals and focusing on making consistent, methodical progress rather than making extreme goals that may burn out after a few weeks. I’ve applied those concepts to my specific goals for this year and hopefully they will help me stick with them throughout the year.
One example: I am a Drug Information Pharmacist and spend most of my day in front of a computer; therefore, one of my goals this year is to become more physically active. Instead of stating I will run a marathon this year (OK maybe a half marathon is realistic), I am focusing on making it to the gym after work at least 3 times per week. I have a section of my planner (yes I still use a paper planner) where I tally the number of times I went to the gym so I can track my progress throughout the year. I easily get bored with running on a treadmill so I knew I wouldn’t stick to that but I love the classes they offer at my gym. Mondays are yoga night, Fridays are cycling, and Saturdays I attend a Zumba class. Additionally, I can substitute a weekend activity (e.g., skiing, rock climbing) for a gym day. I feel like this goal is specific, measurable, and realistic.
Another one of my goals is to dedicate 10 minutes every morning to read about pharmacy news (I love the ASHP daily briefing) and also spend some time every night to read for fun (currently reading the biography Steve Jobs). Perhaps one of your goals is to become BCPS certified this year. I would suggest implementing a study plan with a calendar that motivates you to get through X amount of chapters per week. I was fortunate to find a good study partner last year who was organized with a weekly calendar leading up to the test. We found the ASHP and ACCP materials extremely helpful. We focused on the process of learning and tracking our progress which made us feel better about spending so many nights with the books but we also did not feel guilty when we skipped a few days of studying because we were on schedule.
During my residency years, I remember thinking ResiTrak was just something I had to complete. Now that I am on the other side of ResiTrak, I’ll admit that I realize the importance of this tool as it enables a continual method of feedback, and goal setting throughout the year. As a New Practitioner, I no longer have anyone that is required to review my slides before presentations. The process for receiving feedback and goal setting is often a proactive process. ASHP members benefit from several tools which can help New Practitioners obtain feedback such as the mentor program, the CV review, and through the various forums and communities.
Whatever your New Year’s resolution may be, I would encourage you to get creative, be realistic, and enable yourself to track your progress throughout the year. For professional-related goals, ASHP offers several tools to facilitate growth, collaboration, and feedback. Cheers to 2014! #MembershipandOutreachAdvisoryGroup #Goals #NewYear #Resolution #NewPractitioners