Why Resolutions Fail, and How You Can Change That Today

Resolutions — achieving them is all about your choices.

Resolutions.

Did you make any this year on New Year’s Day?

And how is that going for you right now?

I’m not going to quote a lot of statistics (though they are out there, and they are pretty bleak-looking).  I’ll just say two things about resolutions:

• They are made and broken every day; and
• Each time that happens, self-trust is eroded.

And it’s that erosion of self-trust that is really the biggest problem. It drains your energy and confidence, and it introduces or strengthens the voice of your inner critic. That’s NEVER a helpful addition to your inner dialogue.

So here re a few things to consider, as you reflect on the resolutions you’ve made – and on where you stand with them today.

Are Your Resolutions too Big?

BIG goals are fine, but if the steps aren’t broken down into manageable pieces, it’s a set-up for failure. Setting up 30-day challenges for yourself concretize your process and break it into smaller steps.

A good example of that is our 52-week decluttering challenge — a great way to make big changes incrementally.

But what if you started with removing just one bit of clutter from your space? Now that’s something that anyone can do. The next week, you’d clear out two items…and so on. You can see where this is heading, can’t you? What I love about the plan is how it builds — and not just in terms of concrete actions taken. What a plan like this does is create a shift in mindset and motivation.

Resolutions — What if I Stop or Get Stuck?

Well, here’s the thing. Life often interferes with our plans. We all experience this. But here’s the thing: You can always choose how you respond to unexpected interruptions or events that knock you off-course.

If you veer away from your plan, don’t panic. Pick up where you let off.

And if you feel stuck, ask yourself some quick, concrete questions to get yourself moving again. It’s as simple as saying to yourself, “What’s one quick thing I can do right now to get started?”

A small, doable answer will spark action and get you started again. For example, let’s say running three days a week had been your resolve, but you’ve missed a week.  When you ask the question, your answer might be something like: “I’ll run for 20-minutes at 4:30 this afternoon.”

Put it in your appointment book, and then do it. So you’re back on track and re-building confidence and self-trust.

Your Daily Choices are Key to Your Time Success

Time is pure potential. You decide how to use it; and once you do, it’s gone.  That’s why it’s so important to build on your best time choices!

If you feel like your time slips through your fingers, then you’ll want to claim your copy of my complimentary “Daily Choices Template:  Proven Strategies for Tracking Your Best Time Choices Today, Tomorrow & All Year!”

There’s no time like the present – to start moving toward the future you envision for yourself.