New approach to New Year’s resolutions
With less than one week to go, millions of people are already dreading the words New Year’s resolutions. Studies show that forty-five percent of all Americans set resolutions. However one out of four never succeed in these resolutions. And thirty percent of all resolutions are broken within the first month. Not very comforting is it? It can be a bit discouraging if you fail to achieve your resolutions year after year. Do you know the definition of insanity? It is doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results. Most people come up with the same version of the same resolutions every year and then they wonder why they get the same results. Most resolutions revolve around losing weight, quitting smoking, getting healthier and saving money or paying off debt. Not very exciting are they? I am a believer in stepping outside the box every now and then. It is important to refresh goals and come up with ideas that are invigorating and motivating. Otherwise the excitement factor is gone from the very beginning and you will most likely fall into the twenty-five percent who fail with their resolutions. This is not what I want for you this upcoming year. I want you to take some time this week and really process what it is you want for your life and try to creating resolutions that inspire you. Don’t simply write down the same one’s that you write down every year, take the time to look at your life as a whole and determine what you really want for yourself in 2010. Here are some tips to get you started. I do wish each and every one of you a year filled with joy, good health, prosperity and wonderful memories.
1. Choose resolutions you want to achieve
If these are resolutions you think you should commit to, your chances of achieving them drop dramatically. Create something positive that invigorates you. If you simply think you should lose weight, so writing down that you are going to lose weight this year is what you feel you should pursue, you might as well let it go. Instead of solely focusing on losing weight, which is fairly negative from the get go, focus on what activities you do want to pursue that would get you the same results in the end. Maybe you are going to explore a running club. Possibly you are excited to train for a mini triathlon. Do something you have yet to explore and you will have the energy and excitement to follow through.
2. Be realistic with your approach
You don’t want to set the same resolutions year after year if you continue to fail. You also don’t want to set the bar too high or you risk failing. Challenge yourself but make sure you are realistic in your expectations. It is better to start small and succeed in tiny increments than to start at the very top and continue to fall. You each know yourself and your ability to take risks and give it your all. If you are going to try to pay off $20,000 in debt by June, you may be setting yourself up to be disappointed. Instead do your research, ask for assistance, and come up with a plan that is do-able and naturally motivating. The goal is long-term, to achieve your resolutions over the long haul, not to become a negative statistic.
3. Write it down and share it
One surefire way to increase your chances of success is to write down your goals and share them with others. Just the act of writing them down creates more of a commitment and drive. When you share your goals with others, it creates accountability. By saying them out loud you are simply stating your intentions to the universe. This literally shifts your energy to a more positive flow. Ask friends to check in with you and see how you are doing. Write your resolutions down somewhere visible where you can see them on a daily basis. Good luck! Remember it is better to achieve just one resolution than to fail at ten of them. Start small!
