We are all guilty of it: making a New Year’s Resolution that we bail on by the end of February (if we even make it that long) and then another year passes us by and we can’t figure out why our hall closet is still a mess and why we are still late to everywhere we have to go. Listen, I get it. New Years Resolutions are HARD, but they don’t have to be impossible. A few years ago, I figured out a system to create resolutions that I could actually stick to. And guys, it worked. So I wanted to share it with you.
Figure out your WHY.
If you are arbitrarily making resolutions because you feel you should do this (eat healthier) or you should (work out five times a week) do that, then you won’t stick to them. You are setting yourself up to fail if your resolutions aren’t connected to a solid why. So, how do you do that? If you want to lose weight, and that is your new years resolution, a resolution you might bail on is “lose weight this year” because it doesn’t have any emotional stakes for you. Why do you want to lose the weight (or save the money or be happier or whatever your resolution is). Figure out WHY this resolution is important to you. Get out a piece of paper and write down your resolution on the top line: New Years Resolution/2020 Goal – Get in Shape This Year. Great, so now that you’ve done that, on the next line write out some reasons why this resolution is important to you. “Something like I want to get in shape this year so I can…” be in great shape for my wedding, so I don’t get so winded chasing my kids, so I can finally start training for that half marathon, whatever your goal is. figure out why this resolution is important to you and make the resolution about that.
Get SPECIFIC.
Let’s stuck with the “get in shape” example for sake of ease because it is a very common resolution. After you have figured out WHY you care about this resolution and WHY it is important to you and WHY it will make your life better, then you need to get specific about the resolution. One: the timeframe is too long. You will likely give up on this goal because it is not a specific amount of time. Break down your resolution into a daily, weekly a monthly thing. Write it down. Going back to our first example, on your page you should have New Years Resolution – Get in Shape This Year on one line, your “whys” under that and now add your timeline. What will you do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis to help you stick to your resolution? Will you go for a walk with a friend once a week? Only drink on the weekends? Write it down, get specific.
I want to pause on this and put an note here – be gentle with yourself when it comes to timing. Especially if your goal is something related to your health. Make sure your goals are reasonable and healthy.
Add some STAKES.
What would it feel like to actually achieve that resolution? For it to become a part of your daily life? Take a moment to visualize it. What does your day look like? If getting in shape was your resolution, how is that worked into your daily life? How do you feel? No up it. Give yourself something to look forward to. Book a headshot shoot to update your photos for your business for a few months in advance, plan your dream vacation to a tropical island, sign up for the half marathon, put something in place that gets you excited to stick to your resolution and it will take your mind off of the what (get in shape) and focus it on the why (sipping fruity drinks in a cute bikini on the beach). Put some weight behind your resolutions and have an ending place in mind and that will help you to stick to it.
So there we go! Those are my fail-proof ways to make resolutions you will actually stick to. These steps work with smaller things to like getting more sleep or drinking more water. Write down your why, get specific, add some stakes. You can do it. I believe in you.
Cheers to you and this new decade of awesomeness.
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