subject: Setting New Year's Resolutions - Part 1 Of 2 [print this page] Are you thinking of setting New Year's resolutions this month? If so, here are some effective tips and tricks for making your resolutions as powerful as possible.
Step 1: Be Clear
The very first step in setting effective New Year's Resolutions is to be clear about what it is that you want. For example, if you want to take better care of yourself this year, what does that look like? Perhaps you are ready to quit smoking, to take on a consistent exercise regimen, or to eat healthier. Next, you'll want to look at why you want this. To you, why is better self-care so important? Perhaps you want to set a good example for your children or grandchildren. Maybe you're concerned about aging or hereditary diseases, and you're taking preventative measures. Or maybe you're just at a point in your life where your health has become more important than instant gratification. Whatever the reason, getting to the root cause of the "why" will help you stick to your resolution when you'd rather quit.
Step 2: Be Specific
Once you've set a clear intention about what you want and why you want it, the next step is to get specific about what you're resolving to accomplish. This specificity should take two roles: one, of a specific final result that you'll work towards, and two, specifics about how you'll achieve that result. Keeping with our health example, here is what your specific result might look like: lose 20 pounds by April 1; drop 2 pants sizes by summer; receive a clear and clean bill of health at your next annual check-up; etc. How you might accomplish this: go to the gym to work out at least three times per week; eat at least five servings of vegetables per day; cut back beer consumption by 40 percent (you get the idea). When you get very specific, it makes it easier for you to stay focused on the end result (as well as understanding what steps there are to take in order to get there).
If you're a chronic procrastinator (and perhaps looking to "stop procrastinating" in the new year), then it pays to get started right now -- the best way to overcome procrastination is to take massive action, so get busy!
