No you didn't miss the last 18 days of December but I am hoping that you re-think your New Years Resolutions. I don't mean you don't need to have any but most people have already started thinking about them and I always wonder why we don't just put them into action NOW, today, instead of waiting until January 1st.
According to University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology the most popular New Years Resolutions for 2012 were:
- Lose Weight
- Get Organized
- Spend Less, Save More
- Enjoy Life to the Fullest
- Staying Fit and Healthy
- Learn Something Exciting
- Manage Stress
- Quit Smoking
- Save Money
Do any of those sound like your New Year Resolutions? We always take a moment to reflect on our past year and plan for our future. The problem with this is most people only last a few hours, days or weeks but then go back to their old ways.
Some statistics for you:
45% of people make New Years Resolutions BUT ONLY 8% of people are successful of achieving them
- Resolutions maintained the first week: 75%
- Resolutions maintained past 2 weeks: 71%
- Resolutions maintained past 1 month: 64%
- Resolutions maintained past 6 months: 46%
So how can this year be different then last year (and every other year). Easy - treat your New Years Resolutions like a business plan.
Step 1: Make a plan.
Instead of writing down 13 different things you want to do in the New Year, pick your top 3 and make a plan. Start small and plan out the schedule. Go to gym on Sunday, get groceries on Monday, look for new job on Tuesday, etc.
Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail!
Step 2: Figure out why you picked these top 3 as priority. If you want to lose weight, why? If you want more money, why? If you do not know your why, you cannot be successful. Once you figure out the why, the rest comes with it.
Step 3: Have a back up plan. No body is perfect and life is unexpected. Do not think that once you miss a workout or you have donuts, that it is all over. Look into the future and not the past. It is easy to give up after a small (or large) step back, but keep moving forward.
Step 4: Find a strong support network. You will be more successful if others support you and even join you on the journey. Just be aware of those who fail and then want to see you fail as well.
Step 5: Be accountable to someone!! This does not have to be a personal trainer or a coach but make yourself accountable to someone. It could be a status update on Facebook telling your friends and family you are planning on doing X and that will keep you motivated. Once you tell people about it, your accountability is higher.
Ok now you are ready to be successful. My only other piece of advice is DO IT NOW. There is no need to wait. The holidays are busy, yes, and you eat and drink a lot, yes, you might spend a lot of money, but that does not mean you need to gain 10lbs or be in a lot of debt to start in January. The average person gains 5-7lbs over the holidays and spends over $1000 they may or may not have, this doesn't need to happen. Instead of making your New Years Resolution list now and wait until January to start, pick one thing on that list and start TODAY. Again, it doesn't have to be perfect but it is similar to the Spring Camps in sports, its almost practice for the real thing. Get yourself in a strong position to start the year off right.
Good Luck.
Yours in Health and Wealth
Lindsay Hack
Interested in learning more about me and my business, check out my website www.Evolve4You.com
New Years 2013 Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Weight Loss Silllouette girl Image courtesy of sattva / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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