The year is young, yet you may be as fed up as I am about all the chatter around resolutions and it being “a new year, new you.” Don’t get me wrong. I love the New Year and what it represents. I love new beginnings and the chance to start fresh on goals and dreams.
What I don’t love are all the clichés and empty promises that people say this time of year. At point, I was just as guilty. The year would start and I’d join the pack with the resolutions to…
- get organized
- lose weight
- save money
- spend less
I believed the mantra “it’s the new year, new you.” Unfortunately, it often leads to frustration.
The Stats Tell the Story
- Only about 45% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions
- About 46% of those keep the resolutions going for 6 months
- Only 8% of those keep their resolutions the entire year
- A university of Scranton study shows that 30 percent of those “new-year-new-mes” give up on their resolutions by the two-week mark.
It’s so bad that the third Monday in January has been dubbed “blue Monday” because so many people have given up on their New Year’s Resolutions by then.
So why bother setting resolutions if doing so only sets you up for failure?
There is Nothing Wrong with the Old You
Part of the issue is the statement “new year new you” implies that there is something wrong with the “old” you. It’s hard to build on your successes, when you’re subconsciously saying you’re a failure.
That underlying self-doubt makes it hard for you to leverage the strengths you bring to the table.
Ditch Resolutions and Try These Instead
Resolutions tend to foster black or white thinking. The second you don’t stick with it, you have “failed” and it becomes easy to quit.
Instead of setting resolutions or thinking you have to through out the “old you,” try these tips instead!
- Pick a theme and set intentions. A theme word or phrase can help keep you in the right frame of mind throughout the year. Set an intention that motivates you and helps you focus your energy without adding unnecessary guilt. For example, my theme and intention for 2019 is ELEVATE! It’s about doing everything a little better than I did the last time. It’s an intention to try my best and continue improving. It gives me room to keep growing and a launch pad to keep trying.
- Get clear on your vision. The Cheshire cat said it well: “If you don’t know where you’re going, then any road will get you there.” Vision clarity will make the difference in how well you achieve your goals. Think about what legacy you want to leave behind. Break down the different areas of your life (Career, Health, Family, Education, etc.) and think about what you want to achieve 3, 5 and 10 years out.
- Set Achievable Goals. Set 2-3 goals of different challenge levels to focus on. Don’t stack the deck against yourself. If one of the goals will really move your comfort zone, then pick a couple others that won’t be that much of a stretch. Make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timebound) and motivating. To quote Joe Vitale, “goals should scare you a little and excite you a lot.”
- Make a playlist. Music is one of the best ways to change your mood. Create a playlist of inspiring songs that will motivate you, pump you up and give you that extra boost to tackle those goals.
Set Yourself Up for Success in 2019!
I’m inviting you to join me on January 21st (Blue Monday) for a Vision Board Mastermind from the comfort of your own computer.
If you’ve always wanted to do a vision board, but didn’t want to mess with clipping and pasting, this is for you. I create digital vision boards using accessible tools and resources. I’ll show you the process I use to create my theme, get clear on my vision and have some fun along the way. Click here to register and join in the fun!