"It’s You Against You": Breathwork Guru Rory Warnock on Making Personal Goals – and Sticking to Them

Rory Warnock was experiencing a period of anxiety and depression when he discovered breathwork - a training that has since changed his life. “Breathing is something that we do involuntarily, subconsciously, 25,000 times a day,” claims the Sydney-based wellness coach, athlete and speaker. “We take it for granted. But we can [also] utilise it as a tool to tap into our nervous system and enhance our wellbeing.”

Warnock is big believer in living life by design, not by default. And a big part of that is setting up intentions for the new year, whether that’s learning a new skill or trying out a different fitness practice such as Pilates. We asked him for some tips on creating some new year’s resolutions you can actually stick to.

Reflect on the previous year
“Looking back on the last 12 months is a great way to figure out whether you’re on the right track to living a fulfilled life, whatever that looks like to you,” says Warnock. He says to pause and consider what moments ended up being the best or worst of the year? Why? What did you find the most fulfilling? Where did you spend most of your time? “Think about your passions and purpose,” he says. “Your resolutions and goals should tie into that. With self-reflection, you can choose the path you want to take moving forward.”

Split your resolutions into categories

“I like to have a business goal, personal goal, a health goal, a social and a relationship goal,” says Warnock. This helps focus. Instead of simply deciding you want to be “healthier”, take the time to figure out the steps you might take to achieve that goal. “If you want to improve your fitness, having something to train for – like the City2Surf if you’re in Sydney – is great.”

Rope in your friends and family
“You’re a lot more likely to be successful if you have an accountability partner,” says Warnock. “And more successful when you have an accountability group.” He even says there’s worth in sitting down with a few people and working on your resolutions together. “It’s a beautiful thing to do with your friends,” says Warner. “You can reflect and breathe and figure out what you want to achieve for the next year.” He also recommends a quarterly check in with your accountability group. “Look back on your notes. A ten-minute chat will easily turn into a few hours.”

Stay disciplined
“People always ask me how to stay motivated, but motivation isn’t the hard part,” says Warnock. “It’s discipline. I’m not motivated every day to get up and go for a run and do the things that I have to do. But I have discipline with my time and with my emotional state.” Discipline, he says, comes from being in touch with your passion and purpose, and wanting it enough. “It comes internally. It’s you against you.”

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Muse Pilates. With seven studios based in and around Sydney, Muse Pilates can help make your resolutions for staying fit part of your daily routine.