I think it’s important to start off with goals that are a little out of your reach to inspire you to do better. These are long-term goals that I can see myself achieving, but not for a while – they’re something to look forward to and strive for. A wise man once said that goals need to be SMART – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. Let’s hope that my goals are all of these. If not, we can always review them in the future! Here are my long-term goals for 2019 and beyond, and a little bit about why they are so important to me.
Reach my pre-surgery weight by mid-2020
This is a huge one for me. Gaining weight was so easy when I was not allowed to do any exercise for close to a year and a half. I have gained about 25 kgs (55 pounds) and I’m not happy about it. To be fair, I was stuck in bed for a few months of this and I really couldn’t move. Still, I’m happy that I can exercise again and look forward to shifting this weight. It’s a long term goal because losing weight healthily does take a while, and I really do want to lose the weight permanently. I’m not one for fad diets and I want to be able to make this shift for the long term.
Resume playing netball at the start of 2020
Was there ever going to be a more important goal sports-wise? Netball keeps me motivated and makes me want to improve myself within the game. I’ve been told that I’m able to make a return to team sports near the end of 2019, so returning to netball in 2020 keeps me excited. Training usually starts around February, with games commencing for the season in May, so you can bet your dollars I’m going to return then. It’s likely I will never be able to return to A grade and high level teams, but that won’t stop me from giving it my all in a lower, less competitive grade. The risk of injury means I’ll be doing everything I can to improve my fitness and health before the 2020 season. I can’t wait!
Go completely dairy-free, sugar-free and grain-free
I am almost dairy-free (milk makes me feel sick) and I am trying to avoid grains. Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that is hard to do when you’re in a rush. I have almost completely cut out dairy, but chocolate and ice-cream remain desserts that are hard to completely lose. Luckily, my goal long-term is to cut out processed sugars; but I guess it’s always nice to reward yourself with a small treat. I hope that long-term I can keep improving my diet, as it can be really rewarding for my body and also my skin. I’ve found that less dairy helps my skin a lot, as does removing sugar and grains. At the moment I’m still struggling to completely cut myself off from grains and sugar, but it’s a goal for the long-term nevertheless. You can read more about my dairy-free journey here.
Get my License by the end of 2020
I know what you’re thinking – ‘you’re in your 20s and don’t have your license?’ – but hear me out! My parents worked full time for my entire childhood and I had no close family or friends that were able to teach me. My parents working Saturdays meant Sundays were the only day that they were able to help me, and obviously, the cost for driving lessons keeps going up. Needless to say, I was already behind when it came to driving, and when my back injury occurred, all thoughts of getting a license were completely out the window. My L plates expired, and now I’m stuck, as my spare time is limited as I grow older. I also don’t live with my parents anymore. Now that I’m willing to learn again, I’m going to try and get my license by the end of 2020. I’m proud of myself that I’m going to leave my anxiety behind and try this. All of my family and partner’s family have manual cars, so my partner will teach me to drive in a manual. I’m also hoping to do a few lessons. I know my anxiety will still be there, but I’m really happy that this is the year I’m going to progress with this!
Come off stage supply medication
I’m a bit scared to admit this, but I have to take a lot of medication for anxiety. I am taking medication daily in the morning and night, and it does end up costing quite a bit for how much I have to take. I don’t see myself coming off this medication any time soon – there is absolutely no way I would be able to cope in the foreseeable future without the aid of it – but I do hope I will be able to come off the stage supply aspect sooner rather than later. Stage supply means for safety reasons I am only dispensed my exact medication for one week at a time, rather than being dispensed all at once. It means I have to go to the chemist on the same day of every week, and while it’s a routine, it can be frustrating and time-consuming. My goal is that one day I will be able to be dispensed all my medication every three months like everyone else.
So there you have it – my long term goals. Most of them I hope to achieve by the end of 2020, but some long-term goals are just that – long-term. I am not sure if they will be achieved in the foreseeable future, but I can always hope!
A Long Recovery 