It needed to be said 👀

Okay okay, before you get your panties in a bunch, hear me out…

I’m not normally one to jump on the tough love train, but sometimes it’s necessary, and in this case, it most definitely is. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but time is not your issue my friend, it’s your commitment—or lack thereof. 

As we head into the new year, I’m sure you’ve already begun plotting and scheming your New Year’s resolutions, proclaiming “THIS WILL BE THE YEAR I [insert goal here]!” with much enthusiasm and excitement, no doubt. 

However, in the midst of all that excitement and daydreaming about your ‘new year, new me’ energy, have you taken a moment to actually pause and figure out HOW you’re going to achieve those grandiose goals you’ve written down? 

No? Well, then I hope you’ve written them in pencil because you have some editing to do before you can proceed. 

Wow, Lorin that was harsh—I know, I know, but I promise it’s for your own good.

You see before you can attempt to follow through on any of your goals, you need to consider the amount of commitment they are each going to require from you—and I’m not just talking about time here.

Although that is a key factor, if it wasn’t, I would have titled this blog post something else entirely. 

So let’s get into it, shall we?

Time Versus Commitment: Know the difference

Ever feel like time’s slipping through your fingers, and you’re left thinking, “Why aren’t there more hours in a day?” Because same.

Now, there’s a gazillion reasons for that time warp—whether it’s exhaustion, the overload of tasks, everyday distractions, or, as someone on the neurodivergent spectrum, the struggles are real (I feel you).

But today, I’m shining a spotlight on the ginormous elephant in the room, commitment.

Time gets a bit of a bad rap, doesn’t she? We shower her with compliments when we get more of her than expected and sing her praises when everything falls into place juuuuust right, exclaiming, “Perfect timing!”

But, let’s be real, more often than not, we’re using her as the scapegoat for our excuses. “I didn’t have time!” we cry, or the classic, “If only I had more time, I could…” 

But deep down, we know it’s not time’s fault; it’s ours. We LOVE to blame time for our own poor planning when the real culprit is failing to prioritize our commitments. 

Real talk: complaining about not having time is just a fancy way of sugar-coating your struggle to commit to yourself and your goals. Sure, tasks take time—especially the tough ones.

But the funny thing is, when you’re committed to that big-picture vision of yours, you’ll always find the time… 

Okay, easy for you to say Lorin, but where’s your proof? 

That’s fair. And because I’m a firm believer in putting your money where your mouth is, I’m going to share my personal experience with commitment…

My Personal Experience: I ran the San Francisco Marathon 

Earlier this year, I decided to run a marathon. I know, wild right?

It was January 2023. I was filled to the brim with ‘new year, new me’ energy and was also grappling with the reality of turning the big 35 later that summer. I got swept up in the idea of wanting to accomplish something really ‘cool’, challenging, and seemingly impossible, at least for me.

So I decided to sign up for the San Francisco Marathon, which would take place on July 23rd, 2023, just four days before my 35th birthday, giving me seven whole months to train. 

Now, I’ll preface this by saying that I had developed a running habit during COVID and had successfully run the half marathon in San Francisco the previous year (for my 34th birthday).

Feeling all accomplished, I figured, why not take it up a notch and aim for the full marathon this time around? Spoiler: it’s a whole different ball game, and anyone who’s gone from a half marathon to a full marathon, knows what’s up.

Talk about time—Training for a marathon is a colossal time commitment and definitely not for the faint of heart. If you’ve run a marathon before, you know…from the training schedule, meticulous route planning, properly fueling your body, staying hydrated, getting enough rest—the list goes on. 

Honestly? There were maaaaannnny days when I wanted to give up and use time as my scapegoat. But, the thing that kept me going, was reminding myself of my why and then actively choosing to wake up daily and recommit.

My big-picture vision of crossing that finish line was more important to me than using time as an excuse.  

The Commitment Marathon: Staying True to Your Goals

​​I think you can probably assume by now just how important recognizing the difference between time and commitment is crucial to your success. This applies to ANY goal you’re chasing.

Setting intentions is just the start—but commitment…THAT is the real marathon. You have to remind yourself of your vision and actively recommit each day.

So without further adieu, here are my top tips for staying committed to yourself and your goals, no matter what they may be:

7 Tips To Help You Stay Committed To Your Goals This Year

1. Define Your WHY

Knowing your why is a non-negotiable. It’s important to ask yourself, why am I doing what I’m doing? Understanding your “why” is the key to being able to follow through on your commitment.

When you don’t ‘feel like’ doing what you need to do in order to move closer to your big-picture vision, your why will be the anchor that grounds you.

You literally have to get up every single day and remind yourself of that. Otherwise, you’re going to come up with excuses…you’re going to blame time, circumstances, people—it’s going to be everyone else’s fault but your own until you decide that it’s not—that’s the key. 

My “why” during marathon training was envisioning myself crossing that finish line and proving to myself I could do it no matter my age or circumstance. 

2. Set Your Intention and Commit Wholeheartedly

Intentions are powerful. Pair them with wholehearted commitment, and that’s when the magic happens. If you want to live a healthier lifestyle, start with setting the intention. Then, figure out the next steps and actively decide to recommit every single day.

In doing so, you have to realize that no one is going to do it for you. If you want to achieve your goals, you have to commit and figure out a way to make it happen. 

No one was going to run that marathon for me. No one was going to get up at 4 a.m. five days a week to train in the cold, dark, damp weather. I had to get up every day and remind myself of my why and actively choose to recommit to my big-picture vision. And that’s what you have to do. 

3. Create a Daily Schedule and Actually Stick to It

Routine isn’t boring; it’s your commitment in action. Create a (realistic) daily schedule and actually stick to it! Sorry for shouting, but this is so important!

Whether it’s a work task, scheduling breaks, or implementing self-care—commit to those time blocks. Treat them with the same level of importance and attention that you would if it was a real human depending on you. 

You wouldn’t constantly reschedule an important doctor’s appointment and then make up a bunch of excuses, so why allow yourself to do that with your goals? 

4. Break Up Your Goals into Smaller Actionable Steps

Big goals can be overwhelming—trust me, I know. Hello, I ran a freakin marathon! Talk about overwhelming! And yes, if I had gone out the next day and attempted to run 26.2 miles without working up to it, I would have given up before I even started.

That’s why it’s important to break up your goals into smaller bite-sized pieces. 

Want to write a book? Start with a chapter, a page, a paragraph, or a sentence. Once you’ve built up a little momentum, you’ll be surprised at just how powerful and motivating that can be. 

5. Set Boundaries—AKA Protect Your Time

Okay, this is a big one. If you’re serious about reaching your goals, you’re going to need to figure out a way to protect your time. That means learning what you are and are NOT willing to sacrifice. Be okay with saying ‘no’ when you need to. 

When training for my marathon, this was one of the biggest challenges. My strict schedule made it difficult to do things that I’d normally say yes to like impromptu dinners with friends or staying up past my bedtime.

To stand a chance at achieving my goal, I had to get comfortable with turning down invitations and saying ‘no, thank you.’ It meant acknowledging that I’d miss out on some things, but setting those boundaries was crucial in cutting out distractions. 

6. Put It In Writing—You’re More Likely to Follow Through

The pen is mightier than you think. There is power in writing down your goals and commitments as well as having a way to track your progress.

Being able to measure your little wins along the way will help keep you motivated and keep that big-picture vision top of mind. 

7. Mindset is Everything

When you choose to go after your goals, especially those that may seem impossible, it’s crucial to recognize that you’re venturing into territory not everyone is willing to explore. 

You’re choosing the road less traveled, and the reality is, not everyone will be there cheering you on. Expect to encounter people who just don’t ‘get it’, and that’s perfectly normal—in fact, if you’re not facing some hurdles along the way, you might need to reassess your approach!

It’s not just external challenges either…you’ll also grapple with your own inner battles. That’s where the power of mindset comes in.

Set yourself up for success by reinforcing positive affirmations. They will go further than you think. So, when faced with doubts, remember, that embracing the road less traveled requires not only determination but also a resilient mindset.

Stop Blaming Time and Start Auditing Your Commitments 

I think by now you get the picture. But just in case you need another reminder… if you’re serious about wanting to succeed in reaching your goals, you have to stop blaming time and start auditing your commitments, Mmmmmk?

Once you do that, you’re going to figure out what’s really important to you, and that’s where the real change starts to happen.

The reality is, no one else will do it for you–whether it’s running a marathon or building a business, you have to find the time and commit. Remind yourself daily why you’ve chosen this path and figure out a way to follow through.

As you plan for the upcoming year, get crystal clear on your why—Write it down, commit to your vision, believe in yourself, and carve out the time.

I promise you’ll be amazed at the things you can achieve when you master the art of leveraging time to honor your commitments. 

Need help breaking down your goals and staying committed to your big-picture vision? I got you!

Download my FREE Notion template inspired by ‘The 12 Week Year’ designed to help you stop blaming time and start taking action. Make this the year that you truly own your commitments and transform those goals into accomplishments.