New Years Anti-Resolutions
Strive to NOT do something next year instead
Another year, another set of resolutions to achieve goals, get in shape, be a better you, etc.
The Health & Fitness and Self-Improvement industries have a field day around this time of year by riding this wave of determination and selling memberships, packages, and other products to eager resolution setters.
I have nothing against resolutions or trying to improve yourself. In fact, the New Year can be a great time to hit the reset button on your life and a starting point toward achieving something.
However, it can be easy to fall off the bandwagon and hard to get back on when life gets busy.
This isn’t a moral or personal failing — life gets busy and stuff happens. So how can you set yourself up for success or to prevent failure?
There are different ways you can go about goal setting and sticking to your intentions. This could be writing down your resolutions and revisiting them daily to remind yourself or trying to do something related to them first thing in the morning.
Another approach? Something I’d like to call an “Anti-Resolution”.
“Huh?” You might ask. “Like being against resolutions?” Not exactly. In reality, it’s just another resolution, but it’s a resolution to NOT do something.
- Go to bed early → Not going to bed after a certain time
- Get in shape → Not (skip the gym, eat certain foods, etc.)
- Spend more time with others → Don’t (overbook schedule, ignore invitations, etc.)
This concept is based on the idea that if you’re having trouble with something, try looking at the opposite side. Don’t know what to put on your To Do list? Ask “What should I NOT do?” Tim Ferriss includes a similar approach when he does a Past Year Review instead of resolutions.
Remember that Seinfeld episode where George does the opposite of what he’d normally do and things seem to work out for him? While you may not have to go to such an extreme, it’s worth considering the opposite.
It could just help you get to where you’re looking to be.
