Why are we talking about New Years Resolutions in March?
"Uncommon results require uncommon effort". So what were YOUR resolutions?
According to Google, the top 10 New Years Resolutions are:
- Learn something/go back to school
- Quit smoking
- Get fit/lose weight/eat healthier
- Spend more time with family
- Save money/get out of debt
- Travel more
- Volunteer
- Drink less alcohol
- Get organized
- De-stress
Now as St. Patrick's Day approaches, its time to reassess and revitalize those resolutions...many of these have been swept up with the confetti after the New Year's party.
Why do New Years Resolutions Fail? How can we finally achieve success?
Most goals fail because they are too broad, unrealistic, or that the resolver is not ready or willing to take the steps to change. Fail-proof your resolutions any time of year with the following steps:
"If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always gotten!" ~ W. L. Bateman
Most goals fail because they are too broad, unrealistic, or that the resolver is not ready or willing to take the steps to change. Fail-proof your resolutions any time of year with the following steps:
2. Start defining: Define what "Get healthy" means to you. Lose weight? Eat better? Exercise more? For an example, we will use the sub-goal of "exercise more". Now, lets define the "more" part. Do you exercise at all now? If not, exertion once per year will accomplish the goal (but I suspect that is not the spirit of the resolution!). How often do you plan to exercise? What do you define as exercise? Cardio? Pilates? Yoga? Weight lifting? Running a marathon?
3. Make a plan (where): Where will you exercise? At home or a gym/studio? If you exercise at home, you may consider purchasing weights, exercise equipment, DVDs (a personal favorite that I do frequently is 20 second fitness...for more info, go to http://20second.com/), work out gear and shoes. You don't have to get fancy or spend thousands on equipment but you need to find a way to challenge yourself. If you are joining a gym or studio (or finally going to the one you have been paying anyway!), ask the staff to show you how to use equipment correctly.
4. Make a plan (when): When will you exercise? In the morning? After work? When the kids nap? You have to build any change into your schedule in order to stick with it. Schedule exercise time like an appointment; put it on your calendar. Plan time for driving to and from the gym/studio, showering, etc.
5. Be realistic: Is this something you are actually ready to change? If you are a lifelong couch potato and you have resolved to run a marathon in one week, anyone could tell you this is preposterous! So too is it to resolve to work out for several hours each day when your job or life demands are not compatible with this. Don't set yourself up for failure by setting a goal that you cannot possibly achieve or that you aren't willing to put the effort toward. Look at your calendar and your current fitness level to guide you.
6. Be honest: If you are not a morning person, you know that you are unlikely to jump out of bed in the wee hours for a workout. In the moment of truth, will the snooze button be your exercise? If so, plan for lunchtime or evening work outs. If you know that you will be dragging and burnt out by the end of the day and unlikely to have the energy, plan a morning work out. If you know that you don't push yourself enough, work out to fast music, use a DVD to guide you, or enlist a friend, trainer, or drill sargent.
7. Dress for the part: If exercise is your goal, have your workout clothes with you (better yet, ON you!) when it is your scheduled time. Just the act of changing can help motivate you to do the deed for the day.
8. Get accountability: Write your goal down (and the steps to achieve this) and keep this visible. Post it in your house, office, car, and near your computer. Tell people your goal and how you plan to stick with it...and tell them often. Plan work out time with a buddy to help keep each other motivated. Start a friendly competition with a like-minded friend, family member or coworker. Or do a contract! Go to http://www.stickk.com/ to set and keep your goals...to literally put your money where your mouth is!
9. Anticipate the challenges: What has held you back from achieving this goal in the past? Time? Money? Lack of motivation? What roadblocks might you face? We all know that "real life" can get in the way of plans. Your chances of success with be MUCH higher if you can anticipate the challenges you will face when trying to achieve your goal and make a plan to conquer them!
10. Reward yourself...often!: If "exercise more" was your goal, put a check mark/smiley face/sticker on your calendar each time you complete a work out. This visual gold star can be a fun way to track your progress. Plan for rewards at specific intervals and milestones, such as, "If I work out 3 times per week for a month, I will reward myself with a massage".
Even if your personal New Years Resolution has already been broken, its never too late to repair! Don't wait for a day on the calendar, start anytime. And if you slip up, start again! Be mindful of what was going on (time wise, emotionally, etc) during the set back and use this insight to your advantage! Knowing your obstacles makes them much easier to jump! YOU CAN DO IT!!
Reader question: What was your resolution and how are you revitalizing it? Post in the comments section.
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