Are you keen to reinvent yourself in 2010? Or at least use the new year as a long overdue excuse to get rid of bad habits or pick up new ones?
Yes, its that time of year again. The time of year when we feel as if we have to turn over a new leaf. The time when we misguidedly imagine that the arrival of a new year will magically provide the catalyst, motivation and persistence we need to reinvent ourselves.
Traditionally, New Years Day is styled as the ideal time to kick start a new phase in your life and the time when you must make your all important new years resolution. Unfortunately, the beginning of the year is also one of the worst times to make a major change in your habits because its often a relatively stressful time, right in the middle of the party and vacation season.
Dont set yourself up for failure in 2010 by vowing to make huge changes that will be hard to keep. Instead follow these seven steps for successfully making a new years resolution you can stick to for good.
1. Just pick one thing
If you want to change your life or your lifestyle dont try to change the whole thing at once. It wont work. Instead pick one area of your life to change to begin with.
Make it something concrete so you know exactly what change youre planning to make. If youre successful with the first change you can go ahead and make another change after a month or so. By making small changes one after the other, you still have the chance to be a whole new you at the end of 2010 and its a much more realistic way of doing it.
Dont pick a New Years resolution thats bound to fail either, like running a marathon if youre 40lbs overweight and get out of breath walking upstairs. If thats the case resolve to walk every day. When youve got that habit down pat you can graduate to running in short bursts, constant running by March or April and a marathon at the end of the year. Whats the one habit you most want to change?
2. Plan ahead
To ensure success you need to research the change youre making and plan ahead so you have the resources available when you need them. Here are a few things you should do to prepare and get all the systems in place ready to make your change.
Read up on it Go to the library and get books on the subject. Whether its quitting smoking, taking up running or yoga or becoming vegan there are books to help you prepare for it. Or use the Internet. If you do enough research you should even be looking forward to making the change.
Plan for success Get everything ready so things will run smoothly. If youre taking up running make sure you have the trainers, clothes, hat, glasses, ipod loaded with energetic sounds at the ready. Then there can be no excuses.
3. Anticipate problems
There will be problems so make a list of what theyll be. If you think about it, youll be able to anticipate problems at certain times of the day, with specific people or in special situations. Once youve identified the times that will probably be hard work out ways to cope with them when they inevitably crop up.
4. Pick a start date
You dont have to make these changes on New Years Day. Thats the conventional wisdom, but if you truly want to make changes then pick a day when you know youll be well-rested, enthusiastic and surrounded by positive people. Ill be waiting until my kids go back to school in February.
Sometimes picking a date doesnt work. Its better to wait until your whole mind and body are fully ready to take on the challenge. Youll know when it is when the time comes.
5. Go for it
On the big day go for it 100%. Make a commitment and write it down on a card. You just need one short phrase you can carry in your wallet. Or keep it in your car, by your bed and on your bathroom mirror too for an extra dose of positive reinforcement.
Your commitment card will say something like:
- I enjoy a clean, smoke-free life.
- I stay calm and in control even under times of stress.
- Im committed to learning how to run my own business.
- I meditate daily.
6. Accept failure
If you do fail and sneak a cigarette, miss a walk or shout at the kids one morning dont hate yourself for it. Make a note of the triggers that caused this set back and vow to learn a lesson from them.
If you know that alcohol makes you crave cigarettes and oversleep the next day cut back on it. If you know the morning rush before school makes you shout then get up earlier or prepare things the night before to make it easier on you.
Perseverance is the key to success. Try again, keep trying and you will succeed.
7. Plan rewards
Small rewards are great encouragement to keep you going during the hardest first days. After that you can probably reward yourself once a week with a magazine, a long-distance call to a supportive friend, a siesta, a trip to the movies or whatever makes you tick.
Later you can change the rewards to monthly and then at the end of the year you can pick an anniversary reward. Something that youll look forward to. You deserve it and youll have earned it.
Whatever your plans and goals are for 2010 Id do wish you luck with them but remember, its your life and you make your own luck.
Decide what you want to do in 2010, plan how to get it and go for it. Ill definitely be cheering you on.
Are you planning to make a New Years resolution in 2010? What is it and is it something youve tried to do before or something new?
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Traditionally, New Years Day is styled as the ideal time to kick start a new phase in your life and the time when you must make your all important new years
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