By: Brian Harper
Community Outreach Coordinator
It is hard to believe another year has come and gone! 2014 was very exciting for Stan’s and New Balance Milwaukee. From being named one of Southeastern Wisconsin’s Top Ten Businesses of the Year and Best Shoe Store by Shepherd Express and WISN’s A-List to working with our customers to raise record donations for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and our Share-A-Pair shoe drive, there were many reasons to be grateful this year.
Now we are looking forward to a great 2015! This will mark our 65th year in business, and we plan to celebrate by continuing to offer our community fashionable footwear from all over the world, as well as the same exceptional, personalized service our founders did.
Our New Year’s resolutions involve working toward these goals, and we know our customers have many objectives of their own. Here are a few tips we’ve learned in keeping a resolution past the first weeks of January:
Little Goals Are Good
“Make your goals small,” says Adam, a Fit Specialist at New Balance in Brookfield. “You can always add more once you’ve achieved the small ones.”
Adam, a Fit Specialist at New Balance in Brookfield
It is easy to get burnt out when striving toward an especially ambitious goal. Say you want to do push-ups every day but haven’t been doing any in the months leading up to January 1. Start by doing five or 10 before you go after 100. As Adam notes, you can always increase a challenge’s difficulty or introduce a new goal altogether once you’ve mastered a more manageable one.
Keep It Real
“Make sure it is realistic,” says Kelly H., Manager of New Balance in Greenfield.
Kelly H., Manager of New Balance in Greenfield
Traveling to all seven continents this year might sound like a wonderful idea, but it is not a very probable one. Your resolution should be something that requires genuine effort but that is also attainable.
“Also make sure it is something you really want,” adds Kelly.
Running a marathon is a fantastic goal…if that is something you truly want to do. Perhaps you would rather devote your time to biking, yoga or some other form of exercise. Make sure your dreams are your own and not somebody else’s.
Create a Time Limit
It is common to put off a goal when you think you have all the time in the world to do it. Moreover, you can feel overwhelmed when it seems there is no end in sight!
This is why you should schedule an end date, says Amy, a Fit Specialist at New Balance in Brookfield.
Amy, a Fit Specialist at New Balance in Brookfield
“Give yourself a time limit,” she explains. “Like, ‘I only have to do this 30 days.'” By working with a finish line in mind, you are more likely to stay committed to your goal and remember that no matter how difficult it is, it will eventually be behind you.
Don’t Go for It Alone
Travis, Assistant Manager at New Balance in Greenfield, is a serious runner, having completed the Boston Marathon and several other big races. To make sure he stays up with his race preparation, Travis recommends working out with others.
“Joining a running group keeps me more accountable in training,” he explains.
Travis, Assistant Manager at New Balance in Greenfield, at the Boston Marathon
It is easy to punch the snooze button instead of getting up for that morning jog.
But if you have a friend or group waiting for you at the gym or park, there is an added incentive to get up. Furthermore, having others around you can help you to push yourself when you start to hit a wall.
Be Specific
“Instead of having a really broad, vague goal, focus on the details of how you’ll achieve it,” says Angie, Assistant Manager at Stan’s in Brookfield.
Angie, Assistant Manager at Stan’s in Brookfield
Eating healthier is a tough resolution to gauge, because there are many ways to measure what makes a food nutritious. A better resolution would involve indicating what you will eat and how often you will eat it. Have a salad for lunch twice a week or eat a piece of fruit every day. This is a more definable way to work toward the larger goal of nutrition.
The great thing about these tips is they can apply to any number of New Year’s resolutions. Whether you are looking to get in better physical shape, spend more time reading or doing random acts of kindness for friends and loved ones, making your goals small, being realistic and specific, utilizing time limits and striving with others are great ways to stay committed to your resolutions throughout the year.
As always, Stan’s and New Balance Milwaukee are here to help you find comfortable and fashionable footwear and accessories if your resolution involves exercise gear, better shoes or a little more style in your life.
Good luck, and Happy New Year!
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