Let’s face it; we’ve all been there. Each January, we set lofty goals for ourselves to last the year long, then two weeks later we see that new pair of gym shoes sitting in the corner collecting dust. Make this the year to stick to those New Year’s resolutions! Here are five tips from some of the industry’s best to help you achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself in 2018.
#1. Have a resolution buddy.
Lauren Fadeley. Photo by Karolina Kuras.
Miami City Ballet’s Lauren Fadeley suggests, “Either have a friend join you in your new habit, or have them act as a network of support to keep you accountable. It is much easier to eat healthier or work out more when someone else is doing it with you. Grab a friend and do a Pilates circuit, or go grocery shopping together to avoid having temptations in the house.”
#2. Create a vision board for inspiration.
Brandon Leffler. Photo by James Jin for Dancers of New York.
Brandon Leffler, who is currently “dancing through life” in the Broadway production of Wicked gets creative to keep his resolutions alive. “Go through some magazines, and cut out words and photos that align with your goals. Glue the cut-outs to some poster board, and place your artwork somewhere you will see it every day. Look at your board and picture yourself achieving your dreams!”
#3. Emphasize structure and time placement.
Kristin Draucker in Paul Taylor’s ‘Esplanade’. Photo by Laura Halzack.
Kristen Draucker, a dancer with Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, makes it a goal to meditate before each performance. In order to keep this up, she makes sure to structure her pre-performance activities to allow the time needed to get “in the zone”. “Keeping resolutions is much the same as keeping any goal in life,” Draucker explains. “I know I need to meditate right after I put my makeup on before a performance. I’ll go find a quiet spot in the theatre, meditate for 10 minutes, then will continue with my pre-show warm-up.’
#4. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Andrew Brader. Photo by Rachel Neville Photography.
“Don’t set a resolution that might be beyond what you are capable of achieving,” says Andrew Brader of Complexions Contemporary Ballet. “Whether it is mastering a difficult step in class, a restriction in your diet, or an exercise routine that might be too much to handle with your schedule, make your resolution a real possibility!”
#5. Reward yourself.
“I try to schedule my task around something I already do that I really enjoy,” says Boston Ballet’s Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy. “For example, if my resolution were to have a stronger core, I would schedule my abdominal workout routine in the morning before I have my coffee. That way, the coffee becomes my reward, and I’ll never forget to do my routine, because I’ll never forget to drink my coffee!”
By Matthew Powell of Dance Informa.
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