Have you made any New Year’s resolutions? Do you even make them or just think about the things you want to do differently? What ever changes you're looking to make in 2016, sticking to them and achieving them is another thing altogether.
Most 'resolutions' don’t last beyond the first month – 35% of those who make New Year’s resolutions break them by the end of January, according to research by the training and consultancy organisation, FranklinCovey. Just under a quarter (23%) of us will actually achieve those resolutions, says the research.
This post should help you achieve those resolutions – helping you be one of the 23% that turn their resolutions into positive action and change.
Sit down for an hour or two and think properly about the changes you would like to make and why. Or if you prefer to walk and think, as many people do, take a long walk and mull things over. Take a notebook or mobile device to jot down any thoughts.
Here are our top tips to make your 2016 a year of positive change:
1. Reflect
Take stock and reflect. Cast your mind back through 2015 and think about what worked well for you. What did you enjoy? What were your successes? What did you achieve? It’s very easy to focus on the negatives and overlook the positives, but it’s just important to build on success as to learn from mistakes.
That said, mistakes do need to be taken into consideration as well. What didn’t go so well for you in 2015 and why? What did you learn? How can you make sure you don’t make the same mistakes in 2016?
2. Look forward. Think hard about what you want to achieve and why. Think about what you need to achieve in your role and also want you want to achieve as a professional, as an individual. Think about what changes are afoot in your profession, what will be important in 2016 and what your role in that will need to be.
3. Plan. After thinking comes the plan. Write a list of what you want to achieve. There is something about writing – or typing – a list that clarifies the mind and commits words to memory. Have a wish list in order of priority. Make it aspirational but not so aspirational that it’s not achievable.
4. Set targets
Make a list of achievable targets. You need solid, definable goals to work towards, rather than a wishy washy statement such as ‘Get to grips with analytics’ or ‘Learn a new skill’.
5. One at a time
Don’t try and achieve everything in January – that’s a sure fire way to fall at the first hurdle. Decide on the order you would like to tackle your goals. It could be in order of importance, or starting small and building up or if a goal is time sensitive or attached to a particular event, then schedule those for the appropriate time.
6. Give yourself a timeframe
If you don’t give yourself a timeframe to work towards it’s very easy to let things slip from month to month. Say that would like to achieve x by this time and y by this time and work towards it. Aim to stick to it but if you don’t achieve it on time, then set a new deadline.
7. Be realistic
Don’t set goals that are so over zealous that there is little hope in them being achieved. Be realistic about the goals, how you are going to achieve them and when you are going to achieve them.
8. Think about the obstacles
Establish what might prevent you from achieving what you want to achieve. Think about how those obstacles might be overcome.
9. Talk about them
Talk to people – your colleagues, your boss, your partner, friends – about your goals. Once you’ve vocalized them it gives you an added reason to achieve them. People might also be able to help or provide interesting insights or feedback.
10. Get started and don't leave the changes you want to make to wishful thinking and crossed fingers!
Have you made any resolutions whether personal or professional? What tips have you got to achieve them?
We'd love to hear from you and good luck in 2016!
Comments
Great post. Love the idea of number 5 and not cramming everything into January. It's already a busy, stressful month. Not just getting back into the swing of things, but worse, trying to resist all day snacking, chocolate tins and whatever tipple at whatever time of day was acceptable during the festive period!
Cramming too much more change activity into this coping, settling back in time, is perhaps too much. Maybe the reason many don't meet their goals. If it's just too much to get into one month, perhaps we don't, so we give up.
For the past couple of years I've put nothing significant in January as a change to make. I either do it before in December so that I've made the first initial steps or save it till a little later ahead in February and beyond. I've found that my new years resolution, to carry on what I'm doing has led to much less disappointment!
But January is definitely a great thinking, reflecting, planning month though. A great time to figure out the plan so February can be hit with a more achievable and realistic approach. After all, the new year is the whole year and not just the one month.
Great tips thanks Mike. I'll get my thinking cap and walking feet on!
I'm with you Ady on not planning to embark upon any NY resolution till Feb at least. As you say, there are so many potential obstacles in January - getting back into the swing of work; finishing off the xmas chocolates; snow on the ground; dark mornings and nights; cold rain and wind; flat battery on the car and so on.
Once you've overcome the January blues, I think life gets progressively easier to deal with. January is a month to be kind to yourself, recuperate (from any overindulgences or illnesses), think, look around for inspiration and new ideas, reflect, plan and set goals.
Great post Mike! One thing I like to do is write my goal out and put it somewhere obvious - I have been known to put it on our family fridge, I do it in funky colours and in a way it stands out! Not only does it serve as a reminder but by reading it and talking about it to people, your subconscious starts to believe in it too. It becomes an intention rather than a secret wish. Collages work really well too, I use this in coaching to help people set goals, it can be really good fun making a collage of the things you want to achieve and visual representations can be powerful. Magazine cuttings, photos, material etc, anything really. It can be more fun than focusing on SMART goals to start with, then these can be teased out.
Love that Helen. Goals look really boring and uninspiring in black and white text don't they. Love your ideas.
I also think that's a great idea Helen, because it helps to visualise what it is you're hoping to achieve, and if it's somewhere you look often it acts as a reminder.