Did Blue Monday get you too?
Okay so we’re a few weeks into the year and you started off with a list of resolutions that you were “gonna get done or else!” Yet here you are and you haven’t even looked at your list in weeks!
The third Monday of January is called “Blue Monday” because that’s the day that most people start giving up on all those New Year’s Resolutions they made. In fact, 80% of New Year’s Resolutions fail by February. That can be pretty depressing, but it doesn’t have to be your story.
Let me be the one to give you permission to officially ditch your New Year’s
I hate folks beating themselves up. If you’re doing it-you can stop now. Don’t feel like you’re a failure, because you’re not alone. Many of us start the year off with the best of intentions and get side tracked along the way. It’s because resolutions are kind of like building a house on sand—there’s no foundation.
We say things like “I’m going to lose weight!” or “I’m going to get organized.” or another favorite “I’m going to save money!”
The problem with resolutions is that they have no teeth to it. They don’t say anything about how, when or why you’re going to do the things you want to do. It’s no wonder that within a matter of days—they’ve drifted from our mind like sand through the hourglass.
There’s still hope!
Instead of resolutions, it’s better for you to set a few really good SMART goals. If you’ve never heard of them, SMART goals are:
Specific (say exactly what you want to accomplish
Measurable (how will you know you hit the mark)
Achievable (something you can get done with existing skills and resources)
Relevant (it matters to you in an important way)
Time-bound (you have a deadline that really matters—really!)
Your SMART goal also has to be motivating. Something that gets you excited in the morning.
So, think about the things you want to do this year. Let’s ask and answer a couple of questions:
- What is the one goal that is more easily in reach?
- How will you feel when you hit that goal? (Visualize it. Feel it. Taste it.)
- How will your life change when you hit that goal?
- What will hitting that goal let you do next?
Ahhh! Do you feel that tingle of excitement? That’s motivation now that you’re excited about that thing again.
Okay let’s not waste that feeling.
It’s time to go get that goal!
What can you do within the next day to get started?
Can you schedule time for research? Writing? The gym? Whatever it is pull out your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to get to work. Block it out like it’s a dentist appointment and you’ve got a cracked tooth! That’s right. Make it a can’t-miss-appointment.
Here a Visionary Goal Getter insider’s tip: Make sure you tell someone about your “can’t-miss-appointment.” Put it on social media, let your accountability partner in on it. Don’t keep it a secret. It’s much easier to work on your goals when you use the buddy system.
Once you schedule that first appointment, go ahead and schedule a few more. Use the reminders on your electronic calendar to prompt you to keep on working.
Try not to let a few days go by without doing something related to your goal.
When you break down or chunk your goal into smaller tasks, it makes it easier to get it done.
If you’re into reflection, keep notes in the calendar appointment about the progress you made. Did you run into any obstacles? Was it easier than you thought? Did you have an aha moment?
These little notes will come in handy when the going gets tough and help you see how far you’ve come once you get there!
The big secret about moving from being a goal setter to a goal better? It’s doing the work. One task, one step at a time!
Need an Accountability Partner? Click here to find out how you can nail your goals by joining my Goal Getter MasterClass!