New Year's Resolutions for Bowlers

As we embark into 2015 with enthusiasm, hope, and aspirations, the transition from 2014 to 2015 presents an opportunity to reflect on our actions, achievements, and disappointments from last year. Formally making a list of resolutions may have become cliché for some, but the process of reflection and evaluation is essential to becoming a better player. I encourage you to conduct a deep and thorough self-evaluation on an annual basis with check-ins on a quarterly basis.

Here’s a self-reflection blueprint to facilitate the development of resolutions. It targets areas of weakness while strategically working you toward your goals. It is intended to guide self-evaluation and act as a catalyst for adding more customized areas for reflection.

Let’s make 2015 a great bowling year for you by formally reflecting on the past year, revisiting your goals, and setting a resolutions list to be the best bowler you can become. Print this article out and work through the questions.

Step #1: Restate or reformulate your long-term goals

Resolutions and specific action plans for 2015 should always be considered within the context of reaching your long-term goals. Accordingly, begin this process by reviewing, reevaluating, and restating your long-term goals.

Goal #1:

Why this goal? What short-term goals must be met to reach it? What skills must improve? What knowledge do you need? Is your current level of training commitment adequate to meet this goal?

Goal #2:

Why this goal? What short-term goals must be met to reach it? What skills must improve? What knowledge do you need? Is your current level of training commitment adequate to meet this goal?

Goal #3:

Why this goal? What short-term goals must be met to reach it? What skills must improve? What knowledge do you need? Is your current level of training commitment adequate to meet this goal?

Goal #4:

Why this goal? What short-term goals must be met to reach it? What skills must improve? What knowledge do you need? Is your current level of training commitment adequate to meet this goal?

Goal #5:

Why this goal? What short-term goals must be met to reach it? What skills must improve? What knowledge do you need? Is your current level of training commitment adequate to meet this goal?

Step #2: Reflection on 2014

In order to build a new commitment plan and build a set of specific actions to reach your goals, a review of 2014 will set the stage to develop a more thorough and accurate plan for 2015:

What were the biggest performance highlights for 2014?
Were your short-term goals for 2014 aligned to meet your long-term goals? How did these goals contribute to the long-term goals you set at the start of 2014? Were some short-term goals unrealistic? Were some short-term goals misaligned with your long-term goals?
What was your weekly practice commitment in 2014? Was this enough?
Which practice activities helped you improve? Which activities were less effective? Was this adequate to meet your short-term and long-term goals?
Looking back, how would you have changed your practice commitment in regard to time or focus areas?
Where did you overachieve in 2014?
Where did you underachieve in 2014?
Were your long-term goals different at the start of 2014?

Step #3: Skill and knowledge self-evaluation

Now that you have reviewed last year, evaluate yourself in the following areas to formally help define your strengths and weaknesses. The areas of weakness will be targeted for improvement in 2015 and help define resolutions to take your performance to a higher level.

Mental game assessment

As a bowler improves in skill and knowledge, performance can be hampered due to a weak mental game. Reflect on each of these areas to determine focus areas for 2015.