Are you one of the millions of people who made a list on New
Year’s Eve or Day of resolutions for 2014?
Have you stuck to your resolutions?
The statistics are against fulfilling New Year’s Resolutions.
January every year local gyms fill up with the newly
inspired who are following their resolutions to get in shape, and lose weight. Check those crowded gyms out at the end of
February. Most gyms will no longer be
crowded.
A resolution is a promise to (fill in the blank) to one’s
self. Promises are made to be broken and
once into the New Year the resolutions start to fall by the wayside.
I propose instead to set goals. Small attainable goals and maybe one or two
more difficult goals. For instance:
Resolution: I want to lose weight and get in shape.
Small
goals and something concrete to shoot for:
I want to lose five lbs by June and take a walk around the block five
days a week.
Resolution: I want to complete a 100,000 word manuscript,
send it out and acquire an agent or editor.
Small goals,
attainable goals: I will write five days
a week. Aiming for 1,000 words a
day. When the manuscript is complete, I will
query two agents and two editors each week.
Small goals, attainable goals.
I think you can see the difference. Goals are more flexible and what you aim for
is a specific attainable goal.
Resolutions are set in stone and are the big picture, not necessarily
attainable.
I never make my New Year’s Goals until well into
January. I have a few this year, in a
few different areas of my life, and I will share with you.
1)
I will write for at least one hour every day. My hope is I will write for four hours every
day, but at least for one hour.
2)
For family:
I will bring my mother to visit her sister who is ninety years old at
least every two weeks. Even though It drives me nuts to hear my Aunt repeat the same story four or five times. :))
3)
I want to lose four lbs by the end of March. I’ll join the diet plan at my gym for the
next two months. Should be a piece of
cake, pardon the pun.
4)
On my off days from the gym, I will walk around
the block for a little added exercise.
5)
I will find four things for which I am grateful
in each day, no matter how bad the day was. I will write it down in my Gratitude diary.
Do you make any New Year’s Resolutions or Goals? Have you stuck to your resolutions or goals
so far this year?
