So how are you getting on with that New Year’s Resolution? Did you even get a start on it? Or if you did are you keeping it up? Let me tell you something. If we were all so super good at setting intentions like New Year’s Resolutions then there would be no need for them as we’d be on top of it not just in January but all year long!
There are definitely some things we’re much better at than New Year’s Resolutions like lying to ourselves by saying things like ‘I’ll start tomorrow’ or next week. I want to point out that no matter how unique you think you are we are all one and the same. We all find it really hard to maintain routines especially if they are completely new. Each and every one of us have the same challenges in life to varying degrees. If someone is better at routine it is because that habit is stronger in them through practice and practice alone.
There are lots of tips, tricks…………whatever you want to call them to help. I hope it helps and let me know in the comments if you have any questions š
1.Start With Why
The more questions you ask both yourself and other people the more you grow! If you are not asking questions you are not growing. If there is something you want in your life that you don’t already have you need to ask yourself
Why???
Why do you want this in your life?
What would it mean to you if it was in your life now?
What would you be able to do with it?
If your ‘Why’ isn’t strong enough and you don’t keep reminding yourself of the ‘Why’ then you will fall off course. So what do you want new in this year? Now ask yourself why do you want it?
2.Start Small
‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.’ Arthur Ashe
It’s absolutely brilliant to have the loftiest of goals and wanting to reach for the stars. Remember though Rome wasn’t built in a day and there is no such thing as overnight success. If you try to bite off more than you can chew you will probably end up feeling like a failure before you even start! What’s the smallest thing you can do today to achieve something you would like in your life?
3. Set Clear Goals
‘If you want to live a Happy Life, tie it to a Goal. Not to people or things.’ Albert EinsteinĀ
How many times have you heard (or said)?, ‘I want to get fitter in the New Year’ or ‘I want to drink less alcohol’ or ‘I want to eat less unhealthy food’.
These statements might sound ok/familiar to you. What do any of them actually mean though?
Let’s take ‘I want to get fitter in the New Year’ for example
You need to ask yourself the questions:
- How fit do I want to be?
- What would that look like to me?
- How will I feel?
- How long will it take me to become that fit?
- What do I need to do to make a start now?
- What short term goal can I set to start me on this journey?
- And the most important one, Why?
Do you see the difference? Vague statements like ‘I want to become fitter in the New Year’ set you up to fail before you even start!
4. Planning
‘A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish.’ Antoine De Saint Exupery
No matter what you want to do in your life. In your relationships, your career or regarding your physical or emotional health. You need a plan. You need to sit down and start to map out how you can achieve what you want to achieve or get to where you want to get. You need to visualise where you would like to be and when you think you can get there by and start to make your plan (starting small remember). The smallest of starts is much better than no start at all!
5. Write it Down and Talk About it
People who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them than the ones that didn’t. Telling a friend increases this rate by 78%
I have went on about the power of Journaling so much now. Getting thoughts, plans, affirmations, visualisations……….whatever down on paper is HUGE. Don’t be afraid. Write whatever you want! Nobody has to see although it is better if they do.
Talking about goals and sharing with people how powerful Small Wins can make you feel is really sharing knowledge that is super helpful in everyones’ lives.
6. Accountability
We are social creatures. We started out in tribes. Closed knit communities. And we don’t like looking bad in front of other people! We are much more likely to be accountable to somebody else than ourselves. It’s never been easier with modern technology too. There are apps where you can buddy up with people as ‘Accountability partners’ or even easier put it out there on your social media profile what you’re doing and record your progress.
If these options don’t sound like you then come back to ‘Planning’ and ‘Writing it Down’. If you use a planner/diary and set short term goals within your week for example then when you come back to your plan for review and update you can see where you held up your side of the bargain or where needs work.
7. Make it Fun
‘No one looks stupid when they’re having fun.’ Amy Poehler
Life is for living people. That does not mean it has to be something like chilling out on some beach in the Maldives for 6 months a year (although it does sound somewhat appealing). Within this whole Instagram sensation it does seem that people like to live vicariously through others. Why do people care so much what other people are doing?
The sooner you accept your life as it is the sooner you will find happiness. Fun can be found in most situations. Lighten the mood! Ain’t one of us getting out of here alive.
The beauty of starting small and building on small changes is that it is much easier to make it fun. The sense of reward, of achievement also makes the process, the journey feel much more fun. Life is going to be challenging whether you set yourself goals or not so why not create some challenges that you know will benefit you (Start with Why) and enjoy the journey as it stops, starts, hiccups and flows.
Thanks so much for reading and keep moving forward.
Om,
Matt
