What do you listen to?

This past year I got turned onto podcasts.  I’m personally not a huge reader, as it’s a struggle for me to read fast and comprehend.  What I’ve found is that I absolutely love books on tape, ok ok mp3, and podcasts.  Some are motivational, others business related, music related, and of course, fishing related.  I find that I learn quite a bit and am able to take away more information from listening than reading.  Maybe you’re the same way.  So I’d thought i’d share my top 2 podcasts that I love listening to.  I’d love to know what you enjoy reading and listening to.  Email me or tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  Just look up Jonesin’ to get Fit!  Ok onto my top 3.

1) Bluegills to Bullsharks by Israel Dunn

This podcast is all about human powered angling.  The host, Israel Dunn, does everything from shore fishing, from a kayak, float tube, wading, ice fishing, anything that’s human powered he does it!  In his weekly podcast he shares many tips and tricks on how to become a better fisherman or fisherwoman.  He became a good friend over this past year and I have learned quite a bit about fishing and life in general.  Check him and his podcast out here: www.shoreboundhero.com

2) This is Your Life by Michael Hyatt

Michael teaches you how to take control of your life and gives you the tools so you can be successful.  Whether it’s goal setting, staying motivated, finding courage, or anything else life related this is your podcast.  He is an amazing story-teller and makes the concepts he is talking about reachable and understandable.  If you want to improve your life in any way, I highly recommend this podcast.  Find it here: https://michaelhyatt.com/thisisyourlife

Set your 2017 Goals and find Success!

A new year is just around the corner!  It is quite an exciting time of the year.  Many people, perhaps you awe well are bustling around getting ready for the holidays and looking forward to some time off work and spending it with family.  Last week’s article talked about how to reflect on this year and what we can take away from it.  In this post let’s look ahead towards 2017 and get a game plan set so we can start the year strong and continue it all year long!  Let’s dive in!

If you haven’t reflected on this past year, ensure that you take some time to do that.  This will help you develop goals for the upcoming year.  After you reflected grab a notebook or something to write on and a pencil.  Then jot down some things that you didn’t achieve this past year that you would’ve liked to.  Also, write down some items that you did but would like to grow and improve.  For example, I put on a community concert with my school choirs every year.  Usually they just sing in it, but for next year I’m going to create a community choir and possibly a men’s group to sing with them.  It’ll be a fun and beneficial experience for my students and the community.  In that example, I took something I already do and beefed it up for next year.

You should have more than one or two, but I wouldn’t go crazy and have over 20.  Once you have those written down, take a look at the list and see which ones can be achieved in a shorter length of time and ones that’ll take time.  Then re-write them in these categories: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and by the End of 2017.

Excellent!  You should now have a list of what you’d like to do and accomplish next year (goals) and how long you think it’ll take to achieve them.  The next step is to write down all the months, January through December.  Now comes the slightly trickier part, putting your goals into the months.  Some goals might have to be in certain months.  For example, my community concert is in February.  So that’ll be in January and Feb to make that happen.  If possible, try to spread them out through the year so you aren’t crazily overwhelmed.  So if you have a goal that’ll take a 1 month, find a month and write it in there.  If it’ll take 6 months, write it in all 6 months.  This way you are always working towards something and hopefully completing something every month or two.  You may need to erase and rewrite your goals to space it throughout the year.  Also think of times that you know are crazy for you.  If you travel a lot in December, then put less in that month.  Don’t just leave it blank, but don’t put as much as some other months.  If needed, rewrite the list to get it clean.

Lastly, take yet another sheet of paper and write each goal down. Each goal should be specific.  Don’t leave it open ended.  Make it a SMART Goal. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-based) After you write it down, write the length of time you think it’ll take to complete it.  THEN underneath it, write how you are going to achieve the goal.  You can write it in any way that works for you, but here is what I do and would suggest.

Example 1)

  Catch a Redfish on the Fly – 1 Month

            July, visit friends in Lousiana

            Plan trips to bayou’s and good fisheries

            Catch a red on the fly

Example 2)

  Do 100 pushups without stopping – 6 months

            Month 1 – do 30 pushups (spaced through the day if necessary but pushing myself to do it all at once by the last week)

            Month 2-3 – 60 pushups (spaced if needed but then without stopping)

            Month 3-4 – 80 pushups (spaced if needed but then without stopping)

            Month 5-6 – 100 pushups (spaced if needed but then without stopping)

Once you have your SMART Goals written and a plan of how to achieve them keep that along with your Monthly Calendar together.  Then for each month, write down your goals and put them in a place you will see it every day.  You can and should write down your daily goals (until it becomes a solid habit) and keep them in a place you will see every day like your bathroom mirror, refrigerator, etc..

Lastly, share your goals.  Share them with your family and close friends.  Heck, I want to hear them!  Send me an email at jonesintogetfit@gmail.com or message or share them with me on Facebook.  I’d love to hear and see what you will be achieving.

Skunkset: Staying positive

The dreaded Skunkset picture. You know, the one that you post on social media when you went fishing but didn't land anything. Almost every one of us has had this awful experience.  We load our gear, double check to make sure we have everything we need and want to bring.  We get to the launch, load our kayaks with our gear and push off in hopes of catching a new personal best.  After throwing lure after lure we start to get disheartened.  We push on, tie on a bait we rarely use in hopes it would work.  Nothing.  Then we finally tie on our good ol’ sure-to-produce lure.  Aaannnddd nothing.  

Experiences like this can be extremely disappointing and make one of our favorite pass times that is suppose to calm us do the exact opposite.  It makes us irritated and wondering why we even decided to take it up.  Sadly these experiences don’t just happen to on the water.  They can happen with anything.  For example: running, learning a new subject, construction, and so much more.  The below tips although directed more at fishing they can apply to any part of your life that you are experiencing this disappointment.

Breathe

Yes, you read that correctly.  Breathe.  Take a couple seconds, close your eyes, and breathe.  It may sound ridiculous but it will work.  So close your eyes, open your ears to hear the sounds around you, and breathe.  Then open your eyes and look at the beautiful place you get to fish.  You are able to be there, catching is secondary at best.  Use this time to connect with nature.  Look at the water, shoreline, sky, all of it and breathe all while listening to the sounds of nature. All around you.  Clear your mind and just let your surroundings entrance you.  After a couple breaths, breathe one more time and then go back to fishing.

Change Got to Get

As hard as this is to say and accept, especially when you’re feeling the skunk make this one change.  Instead of saying “I got to catch a fish” or “I need to catch a fish” say “I get to go fishing”.  It’s a blessing that you are able to go out and fish.  Let’s put some perspective on it.  Some folks may be stuck at work, have family commitments, or who knows what.  They may much rather be out there on the water, even if they aren’t catching.  You are lucky to have the time and everything it takes to be able to chase our hobbies.  It’s not a necessity, you don’t need to, and you don’t have to catch a fish.  You get to go fishing.

Original Reason for this Passion

When I get extremely frustrated with not having success I try to think back on why I originally took up this hobby.  Personally, I took up fishing because I couldn’t find a summer job after graduating college and wanted something to help me pass the time in between applying for jobs.  As soon as I hit the shore and started casting I remembered how I used to love the outdoors.  Something I completely forgot about for 6 years.  I love being in the fresh air, relaxing, and enjoying nature.  So when I get frustrated with a lack of success I go back to that feeling.  The love of being outside.  Then I breathe, intentionally smile, look around at the beautiful place I get to fish, and remember that I took this hobby up to pass the time and enjoy nature.  Why waste time getting mad or upset.  Just be outside and enjoying life.

Now all this is easier said (written and read) than it is to do.  I understand that.  Even I struggle with staying positive when I’m getting skunked.  I do my best to follow these three tips and I usually end up happy again and enjoying my time on the water.  I get to fish in amazing area's with great friends, and I’m able to be lucky enough to take the time to enjoy this hobby.  So don’t let the frustration get the better of you.  Remember to enjoy being outside, breathe, relax, and take in the fact that you get to do this!