Let's talk resolutions...Go!

Numbers for the 2015 new year ball in Times Square

We are getting close to a new calender year and new year resolutions are getting brought up more frequently in many conversations in my social media feeds. I'm sure at this point many of us tend to give a second or two to think about the resolutions we made (or didn't make) at the beginning of 2014. But, this time last year the majority of Americans just weren't making resolutions. According to a poll taken by CBS New York, sixty-eight percent of Americans had no intention to make a new year resolution. Thirty-three percent of the Americans making resolutions only were able to keep half of their resolutions. I happen to fall within that thirty-three percent. I managed to fulfill just over half of the resolutions I have committed to -- falling short from making a functional iron man suit and building a catapult. Also, resolutions tend to be a younger man's game with forty-six percent of people under thirty having plans to go out to help bring in a new year. 

So, whats the bad wrap about resolutions? I think it is all about the game plan. People get caught up in all the hype of a new year (...a new you) and a fresh start. We get excited about bettering ourselves and burn out too quickly. The majority of new year resolutions never make it into February. Sure, who doesn't want to get healthier? Who doesn't want to save a little more or kick a bad habit? We all have the best of intentions for ourselves, right? Just as long as it doesn't interfere with our current lifestyle. Maybe that is it! Maybe when we get pushed out of our comfort zone too quickly our resolution becomes more of an inconvenience or trying to keep up with resolutions becomes overwhelming and we end up resetting ourselves back to our default. Or life just gets in the way.

Why is it a good idea to have a resolution?
Having a resolution gives you something to work towards that is self-fulfilling. It is about taking the current you out of your bubble to better yourself. By learning a different language or skill it gives you another layer of complexity that leads to a more well-rounded and interesting person.
 
What can I do to better my chances for a successful resolution?

• Pace yourself! You're not in a competition. Break down your resolutions into smaller, more attainable, goals. You can't just say you want something. You need to make a plan on how to attain your goal. You're not going to loose that 20 lbs in a week or kick a bad habit in a day. Make a plan, take your time and do it right!
• Give yourself time! Have a goal of completing a resolution by a certain time. Then, add a month for a buffer. What I mean by this is things always take more time than you plan. It happens all the time. It is happening right now! I had a goal of finishing this post within an hour and half. Two and a half hours later.... here I am. Still typing away.
• Reward your progress. This shouldn't be about cutting out stuff that makes you happy. It should just add to your happiness.
• Push yourself out of your comfort zone. <----Self explanatory. 
• You've got to be willing to change. Don't do that to yourself. Don't give yourself false hope. You've got to want to save more money or learn a language or improve yourself for the better and be consistent with your efforts towards your goal.

Look, here's the best little nugget of data I can give you: It is easy to see a resolution as a huge metaphorical wall. It is okay for you to feel overwhelmed. You just need to focus on a task and work at doing one thing as perfectly as you possible can. For instance, think like you're trying to build a brick wall. You don't just show up and have a wall. You work at laying a single brick as perfectly and as straight as you can. Work on your craft, remain consistent and over a period of time you will have a wall. I'm not telling you anything new. There's a reason you've heard some of this over and over before -- because it helps! That is also the beauty of it all. You don't have to wait for a new year to change. You can start to better yourself in the summer, last month and even now! Decide what you want, make a plan to attain your goal and focus on executing a specific task as perfectly as you can towards your goal. Progress may be slow and that is okay as long as there is progress. Don't know if you're progressing? Ask yourself: "Am I further along than I was yesterday?" Progress is progress!