Starting Now...
Out with the old and in with the new. The saying has stuck because it's powerful.
Why oh, why? Why is everyone always so gung-ho to start their resolutions at the beginning of a new year. After all, the most important day to start is, well, right now. Today. So why does everyone make their lists full of goals, with the best intentions, at the start of every new year?
You clear out the pantry of bags of chips, and stock the refrigerator with celery. You put on your running shoes and head outside, swinging your arms all akimbo, smiling and excited, and jog around the block. You journal, or yoga, or do push ups and sit ups.
You get up early and start the day at 6:00am.
You’re not alone. About 52% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. Yet, only about 12%, feel they have successfully achieved their goals at year’s end. And while the success rate may seem low, that’s also a lot of people that have been successful. People that have changed their lives, their habits, and become just that little bit more productive.
Why? It’s called the ‘fresh start effect’ and behavioral science tells us we are more likely to engage in new behaviors, to stay motivated in new goals, and accomplish more when we believe our resolutions are tied to a new or beginning time period.
It’s why we don’t start anything in the middle of the week. We start on Mondays. Or our birthdays. Or the first day of the month.
It’s powerful. A fresh start means we can wipe away the failures of the past. We’re fresh and clean and all shiny. We get to start anew.
But how can we push that 12% success rate up a little? How can we ensure that we can make progress throughout the year?
Think About It…
Try these methods to boost you chances of sticking to your goals and changing your habits…
Just set one resolution. One goal. The most popular resolution is fitness. Fine. If it motivates you. The goal has to have meaning for you. Pick one and go. Picking one single objective helps focus the mind. Your mind will work to achieve the tasks you set it but it has to be clear and focused. You can achieve one goal. You can make one change at a time. You can’t change everything. Not at once.
Be specific. It won’t work if your goals is to ‘lose weight’. Pick a specific weight. Pick a method. Set a schedule. Focus on the daily task and not the end goal. Focus on the work required to achieve your goals. Be work oriented. Not results oriented.
Example: If I was a salesperson I’d set my goal on the number of presentations I make, or the number of phone calls I make, or emails I send out. It’s the task, not the result, that must be specific.
Track it. Every goal must be measured. If your goal can’t be tracked then it is too big and not specific enough. Break it down into small, measurable chunks that can be done daily. You want consistency. Each small success builds. More daily success equals more goals achieved.
Prep. If your goal is to walk every morning, set out your work-out clothes the night before. It’ll act as a trigger. Your mind will link the two. Set out your clothes means to get up early and walk. You are linking the two actions. It becomes ‘sticky’. It removes all obstacles to your success.
Purpose. The why matters if you want to stick to the goals. We are emotional creatures. It’s not enough to want to look good in a swimsuit. It must fit into your core values. Why do you want it? How does it fit into your view of yourself? Your view of how you should be? Understand your why? Make it emotional.
Believe. You can succeed. You will succeed. Remind yourself. Celebrate. It’s another benefit of setting smaller, task oriented, daily goals. Each small task is a success. Recognize it in some small way. Success is catchy. It builds. It compounds. Enjoy it.
Do It…
My goal is simple. Write. The big goal is to build a life around writing. A life that is mobile. Travels. But the day-to-day is to write. Three articles a week on Medium. One here on Substack.
The rest will follow.
I’m starting it all today. Now.
Ciao.
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