Happy New Year! Are we ready to take on the new? The freshness of a new year always brings so much determination to reach new goals but often many of us can succumb to temptation and give up.
Do you make New Years Resolutions? Years ago I ended that routine. It gets so self-defeating to make a resolution, or even a goal, only to find struggle and excuses to soon lead to quitting.
What I found was I would feel bad, beat up on myself and find myself going in a revolving door the next year.
Research statistics range from 50% to 80% of people making new year resolutions and then by the end of February people giving up. When I worked out at the local gym it we so obvious. I had to wait in line for certain equipment for about two months and then, people disappeared. All systems go again.
Further research states an amazing 88% of those resolutions fail.Yep; that’s what I was saying about myself feeling bad, and setting myself up for negative self-talk.
It’s clear isn’t it, “Houston, we have a problem!” That’s why I think mantras or intentions work better than resolutions or revolutions.
In my experiences willpower and affirmations just are ineffective with realizing resolutions. It’s just too much on my brain.
This past year I had a daily mantra, “Every day, every way, inspired,” which help me to release more joy and confidence in my life. I am still working on this years mantra because I know it served me well in my overall outlook ever day.
I did find some help with taking on new behaviors, thanks of all things, to an app! It’s an app I just love. Somehow, it’s made certain tasks I want to do more instinctive, including a couple of little features to sweeten the intent.
The app I use is Coach.me – you can find it online and download an app for your smartphone, whatever it is. Maybe you want to consider it, or something like it?
Tracking your intentions like a habit
In the summer of last year, I decided to practice gratitude journaling every day. Using my typical paper journal had always failed in the past even if I made it a resolution. So I asked myself, how can I make this habit happen with certainty? Technology can be good. I realized my cell phone is with me daily so why not, look for an app? After finding all kinds of gratitude journal apps, I somehow discovered Coach.me. It was both online and an app. Perfect.
After a slow, slow start, the rhythm of being grateful for at least 3 to 5 things on a daily basis now pulls me in every day almost a year later.
Reminders
One thing that helps is Lift is set up for reminders to your cell phone. I get them every morning. While now, Journal What You’re Grateful About is a habit, reminders are always helpful in times of traveling, or when there is a negative stressor I’m dealing with.
Quiet community support to keep your intentions
Even though I tend to be more introverted, motivation can inspire me. In any habit you might commit to you will find community. In that community, Lift has a simple mechanism called Props, a thumbs up. As soon as someone either thumbs up or comments on your checking off that particular habit, you get notification. It’s like a cheering squad!
Plans if you want them to achieve intentions
Plans for me is a word like resolutions; I find them demotivating if I don’t act on and follow them through. You guessed it: Lift makes it fun. Let’s say you want to plan to – get your email InBox to zero each week in 30 days. Then that is the plan goal, and name, and you create 30 steps to doing this. Lift people look at your plan for approval and app wide sharing, or you can share it with friends.
I too gave up on resolutions. What I do now is set 2 goals. When they are complete, I set two more. Each goal is easily achievable in a short time. It causes forward motion and I know I am making progress. :))
Lift sounds interesting, something I’d like to check out. 🙂
Lift is like a morning coach. A friendly, supportive coach. Thanks Susan.
No resolutions for me. Just goals and intentions… I keep my spirits in a better place this way. 🙂
Yes Cheryl. Somehow goals and intentions have a power that resolutions cannot touch. Thanks.
Sounds like you have a plan, Patricia! Good for you! 🙂 I wish you the very best in 2014 and always. 🙂
Lorraine, I have flexible and changing plans only because sometimes life is uncertain. Thanks.
Am personally into setting goals, not resolutions. Mantas and affirmations are important aspects of reaching your goals.
Goals and intentions are more important for me as well. Still working out my mantra. Yikes.
As you know, Pat, I have 3 resolutions I make every year: no more coulda, woulda, shouldas; stay fit and have fun. This past year I’ve done well with numbers 1 and 3, but I didn’t get enough planned exercise and I need to lose 6 pounds. I know — there is always someone in the crowd who wants to lose weight. But I know I will get to my goal. I worked too hard two years ago to lose 40 lbs. gained from stress over a couple of bad things happening. All we can do is try.
Oh yes Jeannette – well aware. And yes ma’am, we give it our very best and all. That’s it. Thanks.
I also gave up resolutions years ago. While it’s true that they almost always fell by the wayside, in my case it was probably because I forgot them. Instead, I have chosen a motto…maybe that could pass for intention! This year it is..I AM UP FOR THIS!! This largely deals with my writing as the editorial process is laborious and quite taxing on my creativity! So I’ve posted this motto above my computer screen for courage, strength and most of all…so I won’t forget it!
Sounds like a mantra! I can see you dancing when you say it Jacqueline. Thanks.
Hi Pat: I generally don’t set resolutions, but for fun this year I resolved to attend as many NA chocolate festivals and events as possible. I’ll begin with the Hawaii Chocolate Fest next month!
My goals are more focused, measurable and achievable. For 2014, my primary goal is to get national television coverage for Chocolatour. I put the word out there, and have already made contact with someone who has the means and connections to help me achieve that goal. We have to have purposeful intentions and express them clearly and the right person will hear!
Wow Doreen that sounds like fun. Call it whatever you want, it is for SURE inspiring. Thanks.
A couple of years ago, I tried something different – instead of resolving what I was going to do for the new year, I resolved what I was NOT going to do. It kinda worked. But more realistically, I think it’s healthy to set a couple of target goals, and stick to them. Last year, I wanted to build up my blog and get on tv. And I did! This year, I need to get more into analytics and get over my math anxiety!
Now that is a twist to setting resolutions Krystyna. Sounds like you have this manifestation of goals and intentions quite right. Thanks.
The Lift app is one I’ll be sure to download and see if I like it. I’m not one to draw fine lines between resolutions vs. goals. My personal ones are usually the same, though the older I get, the harder it is to drop 10 pounds quickly!
Yes Jeri, it is a pretty fine line and some people just resonate with one word or the other! Here’s to those 10 pounds melting away. Thanks.
Great post Patricia. I am not someone who believes in New Year’s resolutions and I have seen the phenomenon you mention at the gym, heck, there are times when I have been part of it. 🙂 I have a reminder in my electronic schedule that asks me to list at least three things that make me happy that day. It’s a simple way to track the things that make me feel good and it’s a great mood enhancer.
Debra sounds like your electronic schedule is a little like the Lift app, maybe more general. It’s all about those good feelings! Thanks.
New Years resolutions seem to bring out the worst in us. I like to set more realistic goals.
It sounds like you have a working plan Pat! Thanks. And Happy New Year.
I can’t remember the last time I had a New Year’s resolution. I know they don’t work so why should I set up myself for failure. Instead all year I am making goals, to change this or that. Besides it takes 21 days to form a habit, I guess I have formed many that I would like to fix. Beating myself up doesn’t work, but setting goals for myself every three months does work.
Have a Happy Healthy New Year.
It sounds like resolutions are almost passe for many of us Arleen. That 21 day habit is built into the Lift app; that is one reason I love it! Thanks.
I stopped doing resolutions as well. I set goals for the year and check them every month. For the last 3 years I have accomplished at least 55% of them. This year I’m shooting for at least 75%.
What a great goal Jason. In light of your success track, I know next year you’ll say – done! Thanks.
I am working on my mantra as we speak. I find being on holidays is probably the best time to really get your head around it. I look forward to hearing what your new one will be 🙂
Becc has your mantra been completed? I’m stuck on mine. But, it DOES keep morphing so I feel I am getting closer.