Keeping New Year’s Resolutions
Everywhere you turn people are talking about making New Year’s Resolutions. But how about sticking with them throughout the year and not just the first two weeks of January? Ask yourself the question “what was my 2011 New Year’s Resolution?” Wikipedia states that only 12% of us actually achieve our New Year’s Resolutions. Gosh, I don’t remember mine from last year. Did I even set any? Could it be that maybe it is because I have goals that I set all year long and not just at the beginning of the year? I have a bucket list that I created in 2011 and reviewing it now I got close to some of the items on the list but I certainly added many new things to the list that I didn’t even know I wanted at the beginning of 2011. I think having the ability to add to it throughout the year is key.
Here are some steps that will help you improve your chances of success of keeping that New Year’s Resolution:
1.Write your goal down, better yet create a vision board to help you see your goals. 80% of us are visual people, so cutting out pictures from a magazine may help you visualize your goals. I have fallen in love with Pinterest which I consider my online ever moving vision board. I have visual reminders of great sayings, places I want to go and things I want to make.
2.Write it in positive terms such as “I will be a healthier me in 2012? or “I will have financial independence”. Don’t focus on the negative as that will just bring your spirits down.
3.Write down the action steps that you are going to take to make these goals happen. If it is financial independence, what are you going to do to make that happen? I would start by buying less would be my suggestion as a professional organizer. If it is to be healthier what are you going to do to make it happen? Don’t just join the gym, decide on what days and times you are going to go and put them in your schedule right now.
4.Share your goals with others. Make sure that these are people who will help you and not sabotage your goals. Have this person be an accountability partner. When you have to check in with someone once a week chances are you will hold yourself to a higher standard so that you don’t let them down. Maybe you have a friend that is willing to meet you at the gym three days a week and getting up at 5:30 am doesn’t seem so hard when you are meeting a friend.
5. Hire someone to help you. Sometimes we need that extra push to get us moving in the right direction. Many find success with having a personal trainer work with them once a month. Or maybe you want to learn to play a musical instrument, you will probably need to find a good teacher to help you on the path. There are professionals everywhere you look that will help you move in the right direction towards your goals….business coaches….financial advisors….health and wellness coaches…professional organizers…dance teachers, etc.
6.Review your goals on a regular basis. I can’t stress this one enough. If you keep your goals front and center you will have less chance of forgetting them. Put the dates today on your calender right now as if it were an hour meeting once a month to review your goals. Review your action steps at this time and change what isn’t working. Don’t just abandon your goals, revamp and try again.
To Joyful, Simplified Living,
MS. Simplicity
MS. Simplicity, also known as Melissa Schmalenberger operates her business as I Did it with MS. Simplicity. She is a Professional Organizer based out of Fargo, ND and her website can be found at http://www.mssimplicity.com/
- Interested in starting your own Professional Organizing business, visit http://www.mssimplicity.com/consultant-program/ to learn about how Melissa can help you!
- Need to contact MS. Simplicity privately, you can email her at melissa@mssimplicity.com.
- For daily organizing tips find the MS. Simplicity fan page here.
