Writing Real Resolutions
27th December 2015
It is funny how, as humans, we put so much stock in the importance of time passing. Of all the living beings on our vast planet, we are the only ones who keep track of time. And, boy, do we keep track of time! We measure days, weeks, months, hours, minutes, years. We count birthdays, anniversaries, and days until Christmas. We are completely obsessed!
Why do we do it? Does measuring time and labelling it somehow give it more value? It all seems a bit pointless and illogical really but, even though it is just a day with a randomly assigned label, there is something magical about New Years Day. It’s something about the excitement of change in the air which makes people around the globe feel like they can begin again… become the person that they always wanted to be.
The problem is that a large percentage of New Year’s resolutions go down the drain before the end of January. People’s big plans to “eat well” or “go to the gym more” have fallen over while they get stuck back in their normal daily rut, depressed about their failure.
So, to stop the post-resolution hangover, and to keep you riding that resolution high, I’ve got 4 Tips for Writing Real Resolutions:
With these points in mind, I’ve created my own list of resolutions. In my list I wrote my resolution, why it is important to me and the SMART characteristics for each goal. If you are reading this, feel free to help me stay accountable (I can do the same for you) by sending me a message or chatting with me about one of my goals. It really helps a lot! Let’s get to it:
My Resolutions for 2016
So there you go! Those are my top tips for writing real resolutions that stick. Hopefully I’ve been able to help you out a little! Don’t forget to comment your tips for keeping your resolutions and like my Facebook page if you would like to be notified when I upload a new post. Thank you to everyone who has been reading my posts so far and sharing them with friends and family. It means a lot to me!
Happy New Year and Good Luck!
Why do we do it? Does measuring time and labelling it somehow give it more value? It all seems a bit pointless and illogical really but, even though it is just a day with a randomly assigned label, there is something magical about New Years Day. It’s something about the excitement of change in the air which makes people around the globe feel like they can begin again… become the person that they always wanted to be.
The problem is that a large percentage of New Year’s resolutions go down the drain before the end of January. People’s big plans to “eat well” or “go to the gym more” have fallen over while they get stuck back in their normal daily rut, depressed about their failure.
So, to stop the post-resolution hangover, and to keep you riding that resolution high, I’ve got 4 Tips for Writing Real Resolutions:
- Set SMART Goals: SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. There is no point having a wishy-washy goal like “go to the gym more”. You need something specific and achievable like “go to the gym 5 days a week”.
- Treat yo’ self: People also work really well with reward systems so apps and calendars that use the “don’t break the chain” method can be really motivating (here are some examples: website, Android app, iPhone app). You can even set little checkpoints along the way and reward yourself when you achieve them. Successfully gone to the gym every day this week? Reward yourself with a coffee with a friend. Kept it up for a month? Give yourself a bigger reward!
- Get motivated: The most important thing is your intrinsic motivation. Why do you want to achieve the goal? You need to have a powerful reason that will get you through when the going gets tough. You have to want it for you!
- Be accountable: What happens if you don’t achieve your resolution? You would probably normally keep it to yourself and not mention it. Tell a friend or family member what your goal is and ask them to check up on you. If someone is going to follow you up and be disappointed if you fail then you will be more likely to work when you don’t feel like it.
With these points in mind, I’ve created my own list of resolutions. In my list I wrote my resolution, why it is important to me and the SMART characteristics for each goal. If you are reading this, feel free to help me stay accountable (I can do the same for you) by sending me a message or chatting with me about one of my goals. It really helps a lot! Let’s get to it:
My Resolutions for 2016
- Be grateful everyday: I live a very fortunate life and I would like to appreciate it more. They say that the more gratitude you have, the more you notice things to be grateful for. I want to think of at least 3 things each day that I am grateful for to remind myself how lucky I am.
- Practice French: I’m going back to France (again!) in 2016, and I would like to be able to communicate with people there and in other French-speaking countries. I want to practice my French in my language learning app (Duolingo. It’s awesome, you should definitely try it out!) at least once per day. I might see if I can convince a friend to join me so that we can practice together as well.
- Be social: I’m always saying that I need to get out more, so 2016 will be my year! I’ve turned into a bit of a homebody since moving back home. I’m going to start making time to catch up with my friends and meet new people in my home town. I will go to at least one social event a week, even if it is just a coffee or phone call with a friend.
So there you go! Those are my top tips for writing real resolutions that stick. Hopefully I’ve been able to help you out a little! Don’t forget to comment your tips for keeping your resolutions and like my Facebook page if you would like to be notified when I upload a new post. Thank you to everyone who has been reading my posts so far and sharing them with friends and family. It means a lot to me!
Happy New Year and Good Luck!