Ah New Year’s. My FAVORITE holiday. I LOVE setting resolutions, because I have found a way to succeed at them, 90% of the time.
If you want to accomplish your aspirations this year, here is my Secret 6-Step Formula to finally make New Year’s Resolutions happen for you.
Have you ever set a New Year’s Resolution, and then just kept putting it off? OR made a little progress, only to get discouraged and find yourself with ANOTHER holiday hangover, no better off than before?
Imagine waking up in 90 days with the lifestyle or body you want, and the sense of accomplishment that you finally put in the effort to make your life happier and healthier, once and for all.
If that sounds good to you, there is one place to start: Stop delegating all of your goals to your future self. That person is no stronger, or better equipped to handle them than the person who is reading this sentence right now.
1.Write Down Your Goals. . .
Start off the New Year by re-writing your narrative.
Case study after case study proves that writing down goals, to-do lists, and personal narratives is one of the highest factors leading to success versus failure.
Writing something down, even privately, strengthens your commitment to it.
If you need evidence on why this works, check out the Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.
2. Include how you will handle moments of weakness.
Take today to really think about things that have held you back from accomplishing what you want in the past. Write them down, and resolve how you will get past them.
This will skyrocket your mental strength through the roof. When faced with a challenge or moment of self-doubt, have a plan you can refer to that can keep you on track.
Journaling or writing down how you handle things when the going gets tough, will also force you to reflect on your own inner-critic, see the progress you’re making, and bring flawed beliefs or self-doubt into perspective.
3. Get Creative.
The more exciting your goals, the more excited you will be to go after them.
Do you want to visit Greece? Write a book? Perform a circus act? Sky-dive? Try standup comedy? Color coordinate your closet? Try escargot?
Resolutions don’t all have to be an exercise in Spartanic over-achieving. I write about 20 resolutions, and make sure at least half sound outrageously fun, easy, and achievable.
4. Make your goals measurable and actionable.
“That which gets measured, gets managed,”
Without a milestone to celebrate, you are flying blind. How will you know when you’ve accomplished what you’re after?
A measurable goal means assigning a numerical value to your progress. Here’s an example of how a goal should be written for maximum effectiveness:
I will lose 20 pounds by March 31st, 2017.
Remember to also take an inventory of where you are now, so you can see how much progress you make by 2017.
For example, the 9-Minute Workout app has a handy weight and measurement tracking feature. Use it to compare your health stats now, and again 3 months to see how far you have come.
5. Add a Deadline.
In school, did you ever put off writing a paper until a few hours before it was due?
And then after weeks of procrastinating, surprised yourself by squeezing something brilliant out of your brain in record time?
Deadlines are the powerful extra kick to make rapid progress in the final stretch.
The fatal flaw of New Year’s resolutions: a whole year to procrastinate is way too long. By the time the deadline comes along, you have probably forgotten what your resolutions were in the first place.
Set goals and checkins throughout the year to make sure you are going strong on your progress. It helps to break up your resolutions into daily, actionable items.
I wrote a more detailed post on how I do this with daily resolutions.
“PATIENCE YOU MUST HAVE my young padawan” – Yoda
Remember that the deadline is important, but don’t let it be the enemy. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve set a goal date for myself, and accomplished what I was after just a few weeks or months later. It is still just as gratifying.
6. Use Social Media to Make It Public.
Now that you’ve gotten your goals written down, there is one more step to really obliterate your chances of failure: tell someone.
Post it on Facebook, call up your mom, do what you have to do.
Terrifying? Yes. Motivating as hell? You bet.
I am eating my own dog food on this one for 2017. If you are subscribed to my email list, I’m sending everyone in it my secret resolutions, and a specific monthly course of action for achievement, so they can follow and participate.
Why does this work? Stating your goals to an audience or friend will create a public persona for yourself that you will start unconsciously living up to. It can also offer clarity on your dreams, and keeps you accountable for reaching them.
The best part about sharing aspirations? The connection it creates.
Something wonderful happens when people hear you are working towards something: they begin to brainstorm ways to help or cheerlead.
What is the coolest New Year’s Resolution you have ever pulled off?
Do you have a secret trick for getting things done?
Leave them in the comments. My goal for 2017 is to help you accomplish your aspirations in any way I can. I would love to hear what you are trying to get done and brainstorm ways to help.
To kick-off my helpfulness resolution, I’m sending out special emails all through January and 2017 to offer an extra motivational boost and support.
To join, sign up here, so on December 31, 2017 you feel like this:
What is the coolest New Year’s Resolution you have ever pulled off?
Do you have a secret trick for getting things accomplished?
Leave them in the comments and I will read each one to see how I can help.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
