Calm in the Chaos - Tips for a Better Life
Three Things I've Learned About Setting New Year's Resolutions
I'm an overachiever, so I tend to set too many resolutions, which ultimately leads to failure and feeling demoralized. Avoid my mistake with these tips on New Year's Resolutions.
by Jamie Spannhake
December 30, 2019
Three things I've learned about setting new year's resolutions:
1. Start with a theme for the year. In the past, I've set 10 different resolutions in 10 different areas of life: exercise 5 times a week, make 15% more money, spend more time with family, and on and on. Talk about setting yourself up for failure. We are all busy, so don't overwhelm yourself with so many goals that you can't possibly succeed. Instead, set a theme for the year. For example, make progress financially; or grow my business by 25%; or get healthy and fit; or learn to be more calm.
2. Set specific due dates within your theme. Really think about HOW you can live your life within your theme. For example, if your theme is to "make progress financially," how will you do that? Perhaps eliminating credit card debt would be a great first step. Calculate the debt, break it down into 12 monthly payments, be realistic as to whether you can pay that amount each month, calculate how much you will actually pay each month, & know what the balance will be at the end of each quarter. You'll have benchmarks to ensure you are on track throughout the year, and meeting those marks will keep you motivated. Whatever your goal, back out from the goal to January with specific details on how to reach that goal.
3. Be realistic and keep trying. Know that most people fail at their new year's resolutions by around February 15. If you feel your motivation waning, acknowledge and reassess your goal. Maybe it was too optimistic? Maybe circumstances changed and now you need to change your goal? Maybe you don't "want" the result enough? Changing your goal within your carefully constructed theme is still a win.
What's your New Year's Theme for 2020?
0 comments