August: Goal-Setting + Reflections
Featuring a reflection exercise just for you!
There’s just something about the first day of the month falling on a Monday. We can very easily fall into a “this is the month, this is my month” mindset, which can be a perfectionism trap.
For this week, I want to share a few things that I’ve got coming up and how I’m preparing for it without perfectionism, including a reflection exercise that you can use to prepare for your own August!
Allison’s August.
I am hard at work preparing for my fall programs!
T1D + the 3Ps, which is my pregnancy prep course, starts on Thursday, September 8. We already have 9 attendees! We have a couple of amazing special guests: Denise Brown, NP, CDCES and Lemma Brown, RD, will be joining to share their expertise. And more guests still to be announced!
I am also hard work planning two more new programs, which I’m announcing for the first time here:
Parenting as a PWD: a six week group for T1D moms/birthing parents to share and discuss challenges related to managing diabetes while postpartum / parenting and get ideas, strategies, and resources for caring for yourself while caring for your baby/child.
Baby Range Group Coaching: this is a rolling admissions based group coaching program for people looking to become pregnant and who need more support with their diabetes management to get their A1C into “baby range.” Your time in the group starts whenever you are starting to for pregnancy and ends whenever!
More details will be announced in August, so join the notification list so you don’t miss the news!
This is in addition to my normal 1-on-1 individual coaching, which currently have spots available. There are 3 levels of investment:
VIP: 1 live intake coaching call + 7 additional live calls, daily email checkins, and training modules and handouts. $299/mo
Plus: 1 live intake coaching call + 3 additional live calls, weekly email check-ins, and training modules and handouts. $199/mo (*most popular)
Lite: 1 live intake coaching call, biweekly email check-ins, and training modules and handouts. $99/mo
Your Goals for August.
I love goal-setting and am a big proponent of it, both in counseling and coaching. But good goal-setting needs 3 things:
An identifiable end result
Self-compassion and realism
Specific tactics and strategies
Let’s break it down:
An identifiable goal: Many people I work with will say “I want to feel less burned out” or “I want my blood sugars to be better” or “I want my A1C to be lower.” At face value, they are fine, but they don’t give a lot of indication as to what will be different. Consider these questions:
What does “not be burned out” look like? What will you be doing different?
What does “better blood sugars” look like? What will your time in range or average BG look like?
What is a “lower A1C”? What lab result will you get?
Self-compassion and realism: Good goals also need self-compassion and realism because they help:
Create reasonable timeline for our goal
Establish a growth-mindset for the natural ebb and flow of energy and priorities (we will not be perfect!
Inform how to individualize and adjust tactics and strategies as needed
Tactics and strategies: Goals are a what. What you are going to accomplish. They are not a how. Lowering your A1C is an outcome, it’s not an action.
It’s something you get, not something you do.
Identify the specific steps you can take to reach your goal and a plan for how to overcome possible barriers or obstacles (i.e. what will you do if you get busy at work? what will you do if you are traveling?)
Reflection + Planning Exercise.
Get out pen + paper and let’s journal!
What did you want to accomplish in July? On a scale of 1-10, how successful were you? What do you want to accomplish in August?
When you felt successful, what were some things that you were doing?
When you felt unsuccessful, what were some things getting in the way?
What lessons can you take about July regarding things that are helpful and things that get in the way?
What is a specific behavior you can do this month to increase your success and overcome the challenges that presented themselves in July?
You can also use this to reflect on the previous week, quarter, or even year! If you want, share your answers with the community by leaving a comment:
Before you leave, let me know what you think:
See you next week!