And so it begins. New Year's is filled with resolutions that everyone desperately wants to make and accomplish. But more often than not, the whole idea of "New year new me" inevitably morphs into "New year same old me." Granted there are the resolutions that we have in fact successfully made, but they are so few and far between (at least for me they are). And so I decided that before I start on accomplishing any new year resolutions, I was going to find out how best to approach them. Here are five things that I found to be helpful, and I hope they help you as well as you go on to accomplish big and great things.
1. It takes 66 days to form a new habit and the same amount of time to break an old one.
66 days. Keep going every single day and push through the hump that always holds you back. Because, on average, after 66 days, that habit that you wanted to create becomes automatic and you will be able to do it without even a second of hesitation. And if your resolution is to break an old habit, substitute it with a new one or find some way of breaking it for an average of 66 days and you'll be able to break free from whatever it was.
2. Have small goals that help you reach a larger one.
In the novel Navy SEAL Training Guide: Mental Toughness by Lars Draeger, there is mention of this idea of micro goals. Micro goals are minimal goals that you can reach on a daily basis that ultimately lead up to a short-term goal which in turn leads to the long-term goal that you had originally set for yourself. Lars Draeger discuses how the use of micro goals is exactly what makes Navy SEALs so tough and mentally prepared for all that they have to do. So go forth and set those micro goals and you'll have accomplished your resolution before you know it.
3. Have something that motivates you. (But something that's only associated with that habit.)
We all love treats and we love being rewarded for accomplishing something. So when it comes to habits why not do the same? Every time you do what you set out to do, treat yourself. But make sure that you discipline yourself so that this treat is only associated with this habit. Soon enough, you'll be excited to do whatever it is because you know you'll get something that you love out of it.
4. Write it down or find another way to set it in stone. Commit yourself.
Writing it down is one of the best ways to make sure that you do something. There's just something about you taking the time to put your commitments onto paper that just make it more likely for you to do it and accomplish it. Though I'm not too sure about the psychology about it, I'm sure the American Psychology Association definitely does.
5. Above all: FORGIVE YOURSELF.
Ultimately, (beware: cliché warning up ahead) the only person holding you back from accomplishing these goals is you. Forgive yourself for every slip up and just keep pushing through. When you don't forgive yourself, you are much more likely to focus on the negative and allow it to hold you back. So acknowledge, but forgive the days where you don't get to what you need to do and recommit yourself to your goal. You can do this. You know you can.
