It is that time of the year again when we pull out our pens and diaries and write down our goals and thing we plan to achieve in the year ahead. I wonder what you have written down this time. Would you like to share? Lose 10kg? Learn to drive? Make new friends? Take the certification exams? Smile more?
It is interesting how easy it is for us to sit down and write these things even though we know deep down (maybe not too deep) that they will not last the first 3 months of the New Year. I have written down mine for the New Year only that this time they are different from how they have always been. You might wonder how.
I've always been one dedicated to writing New Year resolutions and planning new things I want to start doing and old habits I want to drop. But I realized that the fact that I had them written down was next to no guarantee that I’d be able to pull them through. It just seemed like along the line, other maybe they stopped being as important as they used to be (how come?)
Allow me to share with you the BEST as you prepare your own resolutions:
- Break it – Let the goal be as long as it is short. Break it down into things you should be doing monthly and daily and even hourly. It makes it easier to achieve. e.g. 100pounds weight loss seems huge but when broken down into 10pounds a month, it is easier to achieve.
- Evaluate it – Regularly evaluate to know what you are doing right and what needs to be improved upon. Schedule a time when you do this (monthly or quarterly etc). You might need to re-strategize at some point too
- Shout it – Let everyone around know what your goal is. It keeps you accountable when you’re constantly reminded of what you should be doing. If you have a friend that has a similar goal, work together with the person and motivate each other (two is definitely better than one!)
- Track it – Keep a journal or a dairy. Some place where you write down what your aim is and what you have actually achieved over a period
Finally, REWARD yourself with each major milestone accomplished (however, do not indulge in that which you’re aiming to quit. Don’t stuff yourself with food when you’re trying to lose weight)
Remember that there will be times when it would seem like you are not making any progress at all or have relapsed into an old habit. Don’t beat yourself over it. Instead, use it as an opportunity to learn, analyze the issues surrounding the relapse and note it in the journal. It would help to talk to someone about it.
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
Vincent van Gogh
Welcome to 2011!!
Ogochukwu Okonji is a young lady who loves to inspire and motivate people. She does not see herself as a writer but loves to write.
She is driven by a desire to see positive changes in the life of everyone she meets either with her spoken words or written words. Ogochukwu loves babies and is constantly fascinated by new-borns. She draws inspiration from everything she sees, hears, feels and experieinces. Her writings can be found at HeartSpeak .
Well said.