Successfully Completing A New Year’s Resolution
Every year people set a New Year’s Resolution, and every year they fail. Eventually, people give up on their resolutions. It is a faraway dream that will never take place. However, there are people in the world whose dreams do come true. They get things done. So, what separates the failure from the winner? Is it a lack of self-discipline? Well, if you get up for work every day, you do have some form of self-discipline. You may argue that “I have to get up because I have to pay my bills.” That is true. So, maybe there is a component between need and getting things done. I believe every goal we try to accomplish has to first become a need, something we have to do.
How Habits are Formed
An example of this is someone who has a caffeine addiction. They were not born with that addiction. It was something that progressed over time. They started with one coffee. Once they acquired the taste for it, they began drinking it every day. Then, they started drinking it several times a day until they developed a dependency on caffeine. It’s the same with goals. You first have to start with your ‘one cup of coffee’, and you have to stick with it for the first 8 weeks or so. So, if you want to get fit, you have to start going to the gym every day for the next 8 weeks.
Start Small
Now, when you start a new habit, it is best to start small. A lot of times just showing up is enough. Once you have arrived at the park for your walk, you are going to do it. You can tell yourself you are only going to walk for 10 minutes. It is important to set the goal as small as possible in the beginning so you don’t get discouraged. If you go over your initial goal, even better. Track your progress, so you can look back on your progress. If you fall off of your streak, don’t beat yourself up. The truth is no one really cares if you accomplish your goal or not. So, you have to be your own cheerleader. You are the only person who can turn things around for yourself. Dust yourself off and start again.
Setting a Trigger
It can be hard to get up and do those 10 pushups you said you were going to do every day. You may have to set a trigger for yourself. If you want to do pushups in the morning, put your mobile phone under your coffee table. When your alarm goes off, you will have to get out of your bed and on your hands and knees to get the phone. This can be your trigger. Or if you shower in the morning, pack your gym bag the night before with your shower gel and put it in the car. This will be a trigger for you to go to the gym before work. You also want to get rid of the triggers that reinforce your bad habits. If you have less processed food in your home, you are less likely to eat them.
Getting an Accountability Partner
For me, sometimes a trigger isn’t enough in the beginning. Having an accountability buddy (accountabuddy) has helped me stay on track when first learning how to roller ski. That might mean hiring a personal trainer or running buddy. If you know someone is waiting for you at the park, you are more likely to go. Creating a community around the habits you are trying to implement is important. If you don’t know how to find a buddy for fitness, try approaching someone at the gym. Look for your buddy in the environment where your potential habit is taking place. If you want to save more money to buy a home, approach your partner. This goal will probably affect them, so they are more likely to help you with your goal.
The Wrap Up
Maybe this can be the year you will finally accomplish your resolutions. Write down your goal. Start with a small initial goal. Create a trigger for that goal. Also, get rid of the things that trigger your bad habits. Find an accountabuddy. Be consistent with the habit you are trying to build for the next two months. This is a fail-proof way to get the job done.
