Ho – ho – ho, the new year is coming. And so do your new year’s resolutions. Each year almost everyone promises to do something completely different and start a new life with the ding-dong of jingle bells. However, many fail during the first or second week of following that plan and go back to their routine. New life gets postponed to the next available opportunity. This year, don’t allow Grinch to steal new year’s magic from you. Read on the steps below to keep and achieve your new year resolution.
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Validate Your Plans
By writing down your plans, you conceptualize them in your brain. When you only think about them, they stay as abstract thoughts. They act like clouds swimming in the sky without clear instructions. Besides, while writing, try to concentrate on your feelings as they will help you validate that goal. For example, you may want to lose weight as everybody does. However, is that truly your wish or the image that the media advertises? Another example: you want to get accepted to a university. Again, check whether it is your dream or the plan that your parents have created for you. This may be hard to do as you may find out that some goals you have been pursuing have not been yours. Well, it is never too late to substitute them with those that are indeed yours.
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Detail Your Goals
You may know this coaching technique but have you had a chance to use it for your benefit? After understanding your genuine goals, write each on a separate sheet and get as many details as possible. “I want to get a new job” clearly lacks specific deliverables. “I want to get the position of a program manager at X company/ field by this date. I want X employment conditions and salary.” This is already an example of a SMART goal – a measurable and much clearer goal for the brain. When it has clear instructions, it knows what to do. When your brain doesn’t, it interprets the information based on previous experiences. For instance, in this case, you may
want to work as a program manager but will end up working as an assistant or a specialist in another field.
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Write Down Your Helpers and Blockers
Finally, sit down with your detailed plans and divide each sheet into two parts. One part is for Helpers, and the other – for Blockers. For Helpers, list all the resources you have or can somehow obtain (buy, borrow, create) that can aid you. It can be anything: your skills, network, experience, education, even neighbors can go under this list. For Blockers, concentrate on psychological ones, like fears and false assumptions about yourself that distract your energy and attention. When you think of them, negative feelings may arise. Turn to your Helpers to regain your fulfilled and confident state of mind back. Finally, list physical blockers here too. For example, old and uncomfortable furniture can be a Blocker as your body doesn’t want to work in that environment. If you live in Washington, you can dispose of it by applying for junk removal in Seattle or sell it and get a new one. The bottom line is that when you have a clear picture of what you have and what you can improve, keeping your New Year’s resolutions becomes an achievable reality.
