Alright, we are officially two weeks into the new year…how’s it going? Did you make a resolution for this year?
If not, you haven’t missed the boat! It’s not too late to choose one area of your life (or organization) to focus on this year. Setting resolutions, or as I prefer to think of it, making a commitment to yourself, is a great way to focus on growth!
Now, for those of you who are currently thinking…
“Oh no! Sarah, I forgot to make a New Year’s Resolution this year!”
Or…
“Oops! I’ve already broken my resolution…what now?!”
Don’t worry!
Can I let you in on a little secret?
January 1st isn’t the only day you can commit to personal or organizational growth! (I know…shocking, right?!) In fact, any day is a good day!
So if you forgot to make a resolution this year, or you’ve already broken your commitment, I encourage you to start again today!
As you consider your resolutions, here are a few helpful tips I’d like to offer!
Keys To Making Resolutions That Last:
- Shift Your Mindset
I’ve touched on this already, but it bears repeating…shift your mindset from “resolutions” to “commitments to yourself.” If you want to achieve a goal, it needs to hold some weight.
“New Year’s Resolutions” have become such a cultural trend, that they hold very little real meaning for most people. On the flip side, “making a commitment” tends to carry more weight.
- Less Is More
When it comes to goal setting, it can be tempting to create a laundry list of every habit or aspect of your life you’d like to see changed. Don’t do this. I repeat…DO NOT DO THIS.
Creating too many resolutions is a common pitfall that often leads to failure.
Why?
Simply put, we become overwhelmed. It’s difficult to stay consistent when the work required to achieve your goals is overwhelming. Instead of choosing multiple goals or commitments for 2023, focus on one, maybe two.
- Write It Down
Once you’ve chosen your resolution, write it down and post this goal in multiple places that you will regularly see (ex. bathroom mirror, kitchen cabinets, sunshade in your car, etc.)
I’m talking about something more concrete than, “Hey Siri, remind me to…[INSERT GOAL.]”Studies have shown that individuals who take the time to physically write down their goals are far more likely to achieve them. There’s something about putting pen to paper that makes our commitments feel more real, or permanent.
- Identify “Mini-Goals”
Most of us respond well to rewards or reminders that we are, in fact, making progress. Let’s face it…It’s easy to lose motivation if you feel as though success is still a long way off.
Combat the temptation to “give up early” by breaking your large goal or commitment into smaller, incremental steps. This will allow you to experience the feeling of achievement and success multiple times in your journey towards achieving your larger goal.
- Accountability, Accountability, Accountability
I truly cannot stress this enough. We ALL need support when it comes to keeping our commitments.
Why? Because each of us, no matter how motivated you may feel today, will have a day where staying committed feels hard. Having an accountability buddy can go a long way in helping you to stay consistent in maintaining your resolutions.
Now, you may be thinking: “This is great information, but where do I actually start?” or “I know my goal, but HOW do I break it down into smaller mini-goals?” If you’d like some extra support in evaluating your resolutions or commitments for growth and applying these five success strategies, sign up for a free strategy call today!
Article was contributed by: Maria Lees, Team Writer with Sarah Boxx
