How are those New Year’s Resolutions working out for you so far, babe?
Did you make it past the first week? If so, you are doing better than the 23 percent of people who ditch their resolutions within the first seven days.
And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even if you are still going strong, chances are you will be among the 80 percent of folks who give up on them within six weeks.
Hold up – don’t get me wrong.
You know I’m all about making positive changes – hell, I’ll be the first one to cheer you on when you set ambitious goals – but I have some not-so-breaking news for you…
Resolutions are a sham!
There are much better ways to make meaningful, long-lasting changes in your life. Let’s look at why you should chuck out the resolutions, and what you can do instead.
Have You Failed On Your Resolutions Yet?
Resolutions Are Redundant
A fresh new year does feel like the perfect time to set new intentions and make positive changes in your life. But, it’s not a magic wand that can suddenly change your life.
I’m not saying that change isn’t possible (on January 1st or on any day of the year), only that it will take deliberate, consistent action and a success mindset to achieve the things you want.
Here’s why I think resolutions tend to lose their fizz long before that open bottle of bubbly in the fridge.
- They are more about what you feel you should do instead of what you genuinely want to do.
- Your goals are too big or too broad and become overwhelming.
- You got wrapped up in the “New Year, New Me” hype (don’t worry, it happens to us all!)
- The timing is all wrong. Most of us are enjoying some much needed time off, which includes extra food, extra drink, and extra lounging around in the sun. It’s doubly hard to get motivated when you just want a holiday!
- There’s no passion or personal values behind the resolutions – they didn’t come from your heart.
- You didn’t make a solid plan.
What To Do Instead
Right, now that we’ve got that out of the way, you can quit feeling crappy that you haven’t kicked ass at your resolutions yet again.
Instead, let’s work on creating lasting, authentic change the right way! Here’s how to get started on setting – and achieving – goals that you actually give a shit about…
Focus on things that matter to you.
Seriously, do you really want to run a marathon this year, or is that something you think sounds cool but actually couldn’t give a rat’s ass about?
Get real with yourself. Dig deep into your values and choose the things that make you excited (and probably a wee bit scared) – things that resonate with your true self. Pro-tip number one: forget about what other people think!
Pick small actions to turn into habits.
“Earn more money” isn’t an actionable goal, nor is “eat healthier.” Pick real-life actions that you can take each day that will slowly creep you towards your goals. Try something like: “make five additional sales calls a week,” or “take the stairs at work instead of the lift.”
Attach your new habits to existing habits.
This is a scientifically proven, effective way of forming new behaviours. Take something you already do every day, and attach your desired new habit to it.
Pro-tip number two: make it so easy to start that there’s no way you can wiggle your way out of it! For example, if you want to be more active in your day, tell yourself you’ll do two squats as your computer loads up every morning. Once you’ve formed that habit, you can amp it up bit by bit.
Work on your mindset.
If you want to change your behaviour, you need to work on your mindset first. Take note of your thoughts, and learn where (and why) you self sabotage. Journal, meditate, walk around the block – whatever you need to do to start identifying where you are getting in your own way.
Make a plan.
Break your goals down into baby steps and plan out exactly how you are going to get to where you need to be. Figure out the monthly, weekly, and daily actions you need to take.
Don’t forget to plan how you are going to get around the obstacles that come up, too. If you know you hate getting up early on a rainy morning, come up with a plan to deal with that before it happens!
Get support.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it takes a tribe to run a business! Accountability is one of the best tools to keep you motivated when your initial enthusiasm runs out.
And if you want a bit of gentle butt-kicking along with it, then my “Unstoppable You” Tribe could be just the thing you need to nail this year.
Remember, it’s never too late to start working on the “new you” (although pro-tip number three, the old you is pretty bloody awesome). If you want some help, support, or motivation to set your resolutions any day of the year, get in touch, and I’ll be your biggest cheerleader! Book a convenient time for a free discovery call by clicking here.
