What does the beginning of the new year mean to us? To some it means a good time to start doing something good for our body, heart, income stream, etcetera. To some it means the added pressure of people expecting us to start doing something good for our body, heart, income stream, etcetera. Choosing the beginning of the new year to start something can be exciting and motivating! It can give you an easy time measurement when evaluating your progress and it’s kind of fun to be able to say you started something on the very first day of the year. The only problem with this whole phenomenon for me is that I’m a thinker, not a doer. I could get myself all psyched up with big plans on January 1st (I literally get a rush when making plans), yet when it comes down to actually following through with said plans, I am more likely to make more big plans instead. But, as they say, identifying the problem is the first step. I now take steps to hold myself accountable. These are some of the ways I ensure that I will get something done.
· Visual Cues – If I wanted to exercise 30 days in a row, I would put 30 Post-it flags on the frame of my door inside my bedroom. Every time I leave that room I see those stinking flags telling me I need to exercise today. Then every time I see those flags disappear my brain is telling me “You rock today!”. You can make up your own variation of this idea.
· Set Reasonable Goals – Now, let’s get real. If I hadn’t been exercising, there is very little chance that I’m going to exercise 30 days in a row. I would probably put up 30 flags with a goal to have all my flags disappear within 2 months. This gives me a clear goal, with room to get used to my new routine… or just to have a lazy day once in a while. If I have 30 lazy days right away, I will have 30 really hard days, which would not be fun. That’s a lesson in procrastination (another one of my fine qualities).
· Clear Understanding – Why is this my goal in the first place? What will I get if I accomplish this goal? What will happen if I don’t? How important is this to me?
· Accountability – I personally don’t like sharing my goals with others to hold me accountable, so my alternative is to document my progress on my own. Both ways are easier or harder for individuals for their own specific reasons. Maybe there is another way you can hold yourself accountable. You could offer yourself a small reward once you hit milestones along the way to achieving your goal (as long as your rewards don’t deter you from the point of your goal).
· Cheer! Cheer! Cheer! – Whether your journey is solo, or with everyone you know cheering you on, remember to be your own cheerleader. If you fall, start again (the next minute, day, week…). The only people who really fail at something are those who give up trying. You are in control of your story.
#SelfMadeStory