tips for your new year’s resolution
We’re only a few days away from a new year and I’m sure there’s many of you out there thinking about making some changes in your life, so I wanted to take a moment to give you some reminders and tips about how people change.
People are capable of some pretty fantastic things and you have probably bore witness to some amazing ways people have been able to change their lives. Change is possible!
Arguably one of the most difficult things about change is keeping it ‘changed’. We are creatures of habit and we tend to do what comes easy or seems familiar. When implementing change, we begin to step into uncharted territory. We go against the grain of our typical habits, and this is tough! Let’s talk through some tips that can help people navigate the change process.
Start With A Vision
This is the easy part. What do you want?
I’m not just talking about what you want right now. I’m talking about this time next year, where do you want to be? What’s your goal?
Now, let’s take that just one step further. When talking about real change we are not only talking about the goal itself, but what benefit or outcome do you want to experience as a result of that goal?
Losing 30 pounds is great, but no one loses weight to just to lose weight. There is something else we are after when we try to make changes in our life. Maybe losing 30 pounds means greater health for your body and extending your life expectancy to have a longer relationship with your friends and family. Maybe losing that weight will free you up to be more active in your children’s lives. Maybe you just want to feel more comfortable in your clothes.
Now can you push a little further? There’s usually a third layer. Maybe your initial goal was to get better sleep, and the reason you wanted to do that was so you could experience the benefits of good sleep like better physical and mental health from the body’s healing processes overnight, more attentiveness during the day thus increasing your capacity to interact with people, and reduced stress levels. There are many benefits to sleep and you can surely think of more. But what is the root of those benefits you desire? There is a belief down deep in that goal, reflecting some value you place on the outcome of those benefits.
What is it about losing weight and being more fit that is good? Why is good health important to you? Or if you were wanting to be more healthy to see your grandchildren grow up, where does that belief come from – that being involved in grandchildren’s lives is a good thing? Or getting better sleep so you can be more attentive in your days and interact with people more effectively – what value do you hold that is influencing you to pursue this goal?
See, in pushing a little deeper here into the third layer, you are beginning to look at some core philosophies and values that govern the choices you make, and the direction you want your life to go. Spend some time reflecting on this. We all have these core philosophies and they are built over a long period of time. If we can get clear on these core values, the pursuit of our goals will be much more sustainable as they are connected to a deep root within us.
Some Reminders on How People Change
Always remember, lasting change requires lifestyle change. And the only way to change your lifestyle is to make it sustainable. No one stays on a fad diet for 40 years, it just doesn’t work like that. When people make effective change it’s because their changes were SMART.
S – Specific. Our goals need to be simple, specific, and clear. If you want to exercise more, get specific on what that looks like. Answer the who, what, where, when, why? Who might you exercise with? What will you do? Where will you go? When will you do it? And remind yourself about your why.
M – Measurable. The goal needs to have the capacity to be measured. Don’t just say, I want to go on walks more often. Make it measurable. “Every day before lunch I will walk around the block one time.” This way you can know for certain if you did it or not.
A – Attainable. Don’t get too crazy with your goal. It’s gotta be something you can actually achieve. Remember you can always add another goal down the line. If you are new to this, just take a small step in achievement for now.
R – Relevant. Is this something you truly want? Is it in alignment with your core values and beliefs you reflected on earlier?
T – Time-bound. If it’s a New Year’s resolution, you’re looking at a one year timetable. But maybe you want to have something accomplished halfway through the year. Do some research and find a realistic target date for your goal.
SMART goals are a well-known tool and you can find more detailed articles about them with a simple internet search.
Remember to change one thing at a time. Making small changes in your life can have a big impact. It’s important that you don’t try to change many things at once, or else it will be difficult to keep track of what is working and what isn’t.
Remember, Change is Not Linear
Though we all wish change was easy, the truth is it’s not. There will be setbacks; that’s a normal part of change. We may expect our changes to go step by step in a straight line toward our dreams, but reality says progress toward change looks less like an arrow and more like a bowl of spaghetti. It’s two steps forward, three steps back, and squiggly lines – that’s alright. That’s why it’s important to find your vision and let that root of your core values continue to help you press on when you face adversity.
All the best to you and yours in this new year! If you want some help developing your change plan don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s get things going in the direction you desire.
