Let's Keep Going with those New Year's Resolutions!
By Bhagya Nadee, Agape Life Contributor
updated Fri January 23, 2015
Every year, when the ball drops in Times Square, many people resolve to do things bigger and better. My new year’s resolutions were to eat healthier and exercise more. I lasted about two days. I was perfectly good, ditching doughnuts in the morning for eggs and making the biggest salad I’ve ever made for lunch. Then life got in the way of my plans. I was busy, tired at the end of the day, and just wasn’t in the mood for a workout. It’s one thing to make resolutions during the holidays when you’re surrounded by lively music, good food and people you care about. It’s another thing to carry them through even the first week of a new year, let alone on to the next month.
But February brings a renewed chance at trying for bigger and better things. For one, it’s a short month. You only have to keep it up for 28 days, not 31 – that’s three whole days fewer than January! When you’re taking one day at a time, even that is a relief. But in all seriousness, let’s think of some strategies to help us stick to that list of dreams.
Write it Down
Take two minutes now (right now!) to write down what you want this year. Write everything that comes to your mind. I want to pay off my bills, find a job, eat healthier, lose weight and so on. Time yourself for two minutes, and stop writing when time is up. With a task like this, many people tend to start dreaming about what they want, and the dream is so satisfactory that they become content just dreaming. They fail to actually do something about making that dream a reality. This is why we stop ourselves at two minutes.
Prioritize
Read your list, analyzing each point. Think with each, if this is the only thing that I accomplish, will I be happy with myself? Circle the one that is the most important to you. Focusing on one task like this makes it easier to be motivated about actually doing it.
Break it down
Take a new piece of paper and write across the top the goal you picked in big bold letters. Write it in a statement: “I will ________ this year” (I will eat healthier this year). Then start breaking it down. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What does this mean to me?
- Why do I need to do this?
- How will this make me happy if I am successful?
- What is one thing I can do right now to get me one step closer?
For example, for me, ‘eating healthy’ means more vegetables, fruits and protein, and less doughy bread, pasta, and oily food. If I am successful, I will feel more energized and less sleepy during the day. To get me closer to my goal, I made a shopping list of vegetables to stock my fridge the next time I go to the grocery store.
Be Specific
It is important to be as specific as you can. Don’t try to go big right from the start. If you’ve abandoned your goal already, chances are it’s because you were too vague. For example, just resolving to eat healthier is not enough to get me to eat more vegetables. But if I resolve to eat one vegetable with every meal for the next two weeks, my goal is now specific. Notice that I also added a measurement of success: one vegetable, for two weeks. I have succeeded in my goal if I just add a single veggie to every meal, and keep going for two entire weeks. My goal now does not sound so unattainable.
Start Small
When you start small, i.e. one veggie, you set yourself up to win. Start building a habit like this, and you can go bigger as you feel more comfortable. Small wins get large gains, and small tasks get you to that ultimate goal.
Let’s do this! Good luck.
