Remember the excitement you had at the beginning of the year: new possibilities, a year full of _________, another chance and fresh start to finally...get healthy, start that project, make that move, incorporate that habit, etc?
It's 45 days later. Have you forgotten some of what you resolved to do already?
Take little comfort in the fact that you're not alone. Unless your New Year's Resolutions got some great traction early-on....they are likely a fastly fading memory.
But wait, we can do something about this memory problem we have! (This is starting to sound like an infommercial).
(steps that should be familiar to weely challenge readers...now just apply them!)
(Don't laugh at the first one)
(1) Recall what the resolutions were that you were so excited about on January 1. You might have to ask your friends what you said. You might need to see if you wrote something down. When you re-discover them, write them down using ink.
(2) Get your resolutions in front of your face everywhere (see Weekly Challenge # 124 for particulars). But remember, not doing this was part of how you forgot in the first place.
(3) Put a number to your resolutions. Don't set out to "lose weight," set out to lose 34 pounds and keep track of your actual progress. Don't resolve to "eat more oatmeal." Commit to having 7 servings per week (and tally them). Don't just have the idea of more time off this year, commit to 3 separate vacations, 4 holidays and 12 "fun days." Etc.
(4) Build in short-term rewards. Set up, schedule, put on order, various rewards that can pull you forward. Since you didn't have any rewards built in on Jan 15 or Jan 30, or Feb 1, etc., no wonder some of your most important goals for the year have started to fade a little.
(5) For habits you want to develop: get another support in place. Find another person to accompany you, join a place or group that supports your new habit, surround yourself with reminders in your environment of the new habit that is a part of your life.
(6) For goals and projects you want to accomplish: put something else in motion TODAY. The longer it sits on the shelf as an IDEA, the more dust it collects, the easier it falls back behind the other work, the more likely you'll remember it only in a fleeting moment, and long enough to beat yourself up about never doing it. (Am I right?)
(7) Do you have several resolutions you've forgotten: Drop most of them and focus on one or two. It doesn't matter that they are all important. No, it's because they are all important--and you haven't managed to get busy on ANY of them, that you must drop the load and choose one to make a reality. THEN move on to another. (you will)
(8) Translate any "should" resolutions into "wants" resolutions (or drop them): If you have any goals or resolutions that are on your list because you think you SHOULD be doing them...it is no surprise that you can't seem to remember them, let alone make them happen. But, if you can figure out some powerful reasons why YOU WANT to achieve those goals or establish those habits: there is your motivation engine.
For example, knowing you should exercise for good health is one thing...excercising because you want to still be alive when your daughter gets married...that's a reason to want to be healthy. Finding a new job because your workplace is toxic is a good idea, but...getting a new job because you have identified what you WANT as a professional is another subtle level. Simply, it's personal. And therefore, more probable.
(9) Visualize how you want things to be different three months from now. Write that vision down. Read / tell it to yourself daily. If you can't see or envision the future you're creating, you'll be less likely to remember any of those steps you need to take to get there
(10) Get a coach. Or a pal, a friend, a colleague, a spouse, who can help you "not forget" the important things you said you wanted to do / be this year. I only half-jokingly tell people that most of my work as a coach is to find out what is really important to people, and then NEVER let them forget it.
Bottom Line: Don't let your dreams for the year fade away as time marches on. Since our memory can let us down, employ other strategies to keep your important goals and resolutions a focus in your life.
BE More,
Tom
=================================================================
POWER QUESTIONS:
1. Again, what are my resolutions for this (new) year?
2. What is my best strategy for not forgetting what is important to me?
3. How could I use help from others to make my resolutions a reality?
=================================================================
Comments