I confess. I was one of those persons that started thinking about my New Year’s resolutions on Thanksgiving Day, prepared and gathered resources the day after Christmas, implemented on New Year’s Day, and failed before Valentine’s Day.
The sad thing is I was continually failing at the same resolutions!
For this year – 2010 – I revamped my strategy. I started my preparation in July by seeking professional help on what was “blocking” me from completing my goals, especially my writing goals. The revelations were astounding and very helpful. I attended classes in the areas where I felt weakest to aide my understanding of the requirements to be a success. I actually started working toward my goals long before the new year and implemented some changes that are habits for me now as the new year greets me.
Basically, I plan my work and work my plan, which includes weekly goals and reassessing every week.
Instead of New Year’s Resolutions I now have New Week Resolutions. They are smaller, manageable and attainable. It feels great to mark my weekly status COMPLETED at the end of each week. That one word prompts me to continue.
So, for those who need a little help on those New Year’s Resolutions, here are a couple of websites to help out.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5800702_keep-new-year_s-resolve.html
www.webmd.com/balance/features/new-years-resolutions-in-one-year-out-other
www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
QUESTIONS:
Have you made any resolutions for the new year?
Are any of them failed resolutions from previous years?
If so, why do you think you continue to fail at them?
Do you feel pressured to make and keep New Year’s resolutions?
Oh my, always so daunting. I’ve recently read to stop focusing on my weaknesses (they are infinate) and start focusing on my strengths which are a little more managable. But that still conflicts with my overall goals. There are things I want to do that require that I have to have skillls that I’m not brilliant at. I’m not sure that will work either. I totally agree with the weekly thing. I’ve been doing that for awhile although I usually do it in 6 week chunks. That way I have a large project I have accomplished at the end of it. Now if I could just get them all to come together and feed off each other. For me that is the biggest issue I think, getting it all the projects I do to somehow find a related string…that bears fruit of my cummulative effort. Does that make sense. Ugh. I’m going back to bed.
Well, I have not made a resolution in many years. Why? Because for me making the resolution is just begging me to rebel. I am not very good at long range planning. Kinda ADD that way I guess. I typically take baby steps. I typically just set a goal related to something that I like to to, i.e. baking cakes/cookies, working with my horses, working out, etc. then I just go about the business of getting it done.
In the past that has worked for me & I can keep it up until I reach desired results or I just don’t want to do it anymore.
This year I have not set a particular goal, but I would like to work on living healthier, i.e. eating, exercising, staying active in general. I have already begun to do these things, so I believe I can be successful.