Why do you wait until New Year to make resolutions - and to decide about your intentions and goals? Just to lay 'em out for next year because everyone else is doing it? How many of the resolutions will you ditch on the way? - The reason why 95% of New Year resolutions won't stick are: one makes too many resolutions, wants too drastic & unrealistic changes, formulates imprecise goals (or no goals) and puts too little heart into it. Here is how you avoid these mistakes:
MISTAKE #1: Having 10 and more resolutions.
GOOD: Focus on 6-7 "projects". (I think a "resolution" is something you think about doing, a "project" is something you are in the middle of). It's best to even take only one at a time - so 6 of them for 2 months over the year. Focus on the most important ones. The less you want to do, the more likely you will succeed in the 6 you have focused on.
MISTAKE #2: Imprecise resolutions and habit changes.
GOOD: Thinking about realistic changes that can be measured. Don't put "loose weight", "exercise more". - Put "loose 8lbs. in 6 months" or "exercise 2 times a week for 45min." Once Friday rolls around you should be having a very nagging conscience!!! Even if it means you should have had to run to the gym every Saturday and Sunday to reach the goal - you made it! It's not that easy to put a precise goal off. You could also say "Exercise every Monday and Wednesday evening". That way, the slot (that fits your work and family schedule!) is set - and if you have to cancel it once you will have to find another slot in your schedule... No room for wiggling out of here!
MISTAKE #2: Unrealistic goals.
GOOD: Think about realistic steps. If you're a total couch bum and work 50+hrs a week how realistic is it that you will work out 5 times per week starting tomorrow? How can you make that fit with your lifestyle? - Put "Exercise 2 times a week for 45min in January." Then for February you can put "Exercise 3 times a week for 60min until the end of February." Start with small changes you can do and progress to more! This way you are building a set of small changes into a row that will end up being a big change! How do you eat an elephant? - In small pieces!
MISTAKE #4: No heart in it.
GOOD: Think about the resolutions as a constant process. Everyday you can decide how to spend the 1440mins of that day. What kind of a person would you like to be? What do you want to accomplish today or this week? If you made the resolutions only because a new year came around - you might not be putting enough heart into it. Why wait until Dec 31th to ditch bad habits? What is holding you back from doing it today? With these easy steps you will even have the joy of succeeding in what you set out to do - and thereby more fun in doing it whenever you feel you need a change to happen in your life.
For further reading I recommend:
ZenHabits: The Definitive Guide to Sticking to Your New Year's Resolutions.
Now get out and do it!
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