I haven’t made a New Years’ Resolution in probably a decade I got tired of the failing every year. I know I’m not alone here. EVERY person I have talked to in the last 30 days as indicated the same scenario. Within 4-6 weeks of making a resolution, they have not succeeded.
For this reason, and many of my own reasons; I stopped making New Years’ Resolutions — but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have a plan for each new year. And that is your solution. But before we get into exactly what the solution is and how to make it work for you. I want to take a few minutes and go over the WHY behind the failing of New Years’ Resolutions.
Now you’re probably wondering why I don’t just tell you the solution to New Years’ Resolutions not working, but the reason is because you have to know the issue/problem before you can know, understand and truly appreciate the solution. This is true for a number of scenarios and situations.
When we make a New Years’ Resolution its typically going to take us into the realm of unknowns, or the path of hardwork and complete 180s from where you are today. We our not programmed for this. We have to work into the better version of yourself. You don’t even need the 180. You need to start with focus. Funny that this is my word for this year, but you need focus on the end result.
When we make a full on New Years’ Resolution we are overwhelming our brain, and a majority of brains are not able to manage this amount of overload so they shut down and we revert back to what we’ve been working on for 2-4 weeks. Also, with resolutions, when we fail at the resolution, we stop all together instead of getting back on it — our brain thinks we’ve already failed so why bother.
But have NO FEAR, I have the solution for you. There are a few pieces to this solution:
1. The first is breaking the full year, into 4 quarters (or 3 month/90 day) plans. Seeing 365 days out can be difficult, if not down right impossible. If you look at just the first 3 months of 2021 and use that has the timeline, it becomes more manageable and less overwhelming.
2. Creating a structured plan that is detailed and supported by your WHY. If you say I want to lose 10lbs in the first quarter of 2021; that is not enough. You need the HOW you are going to do it, WHEN you are going to do it and the most important is WHY you are doing it. If you can not articulate the WHY behind your need/want, it is 10x more difficult to achieve the success associated with your task.
3. Track and monitor. This can be a journal, an accountability partner or just an app that allows you to track your successes that are aligned with your goals.
4. Baby Steps. Since our goal is to end the year with the changes and improvements in place, we have all year. Set your goals for the first quarter at a fraction of what you would expect to do within a full years period.
5. Repeat. You do this every quarter – evaluate the previous quarter, what you did and did not achieve and adjust the goals for the next quarter.
Wendie Lloyd and I will be hosting a room on Clubhouse on Tuesday, January 5th. Follow us there to be notified when we are on!
Sending you lots of good vibes and successes as we start the new year and focus on what matters to each of us.
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