Res⋅o⋅lu⋅tion (.n) : “a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner”
Some people scoff at the notion of making New Year’s Resolutions. Why bother? All these good intentions are just that – intentions. Right?
Right. That is unless you actually plan and implement. Follow these 3 simple but crucial steps to get those resolutions out of your head and into action:
1. Define
What exactly do you want? More quality time with your family? To finally get fit? Get more clients? Whatever “it” is, you have to know what it is in order to get it.
Write your resolutions (read: goals) down and define what they mean to you. Be as specific as possible. Quantify. How much? How often? How many?
2. Plan
What does it take? What are the steps involved? For example, if you want to spend more time with your family, what must you do to make this happen? Turn off the computer by homework or dinner time each day? Schedule a movie night once a month?
List your action steps under each resolution and its definition.
3. Implement
Here’s the hard part…the part where the rubber hits the road. All is for naught unless you act.
Take each action step and schedule it in your calendar. Going to the gym three times per week? Pick the times and block them out as recurring appointments with yourself. Daily family time? Set an alarm or reminder to wrap it up and shut down the computer at a specific time each day. Get more clients? Schedule time to contact each of your existing and past clients to ask for a referral.
Of course some resolutions are more complex than others. Scheduling your exercise time is very straightforward. Being happier or having more fun in 2009 is not. These larger, more conceptual goals are still doable. Just break them into smaller “chunks”.
For instance, what does being happy look and feel like to you? What do you see yourself doing? Write it down. Define it. Spell out exactly the things you can actually do to feel better and be happy. Maybe you think meditation will help. OK, what does that entail? The first step is probably to learn. You’ll need instruction. How do you get it? Find a book, video or class. Great! Schedule the necessary research time. Get going! Take the first step, then the next step, then the next…
A popular motivational quote by W. Clement Stone is “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” But to achieve, we must get out of our heads and into action. And to act – consistently and purposefully anyway – we must do a bit of planning first.
So go ahead, make those resolutions and ignore the naysayers. This is about you and what you want. Make a true commitment by defining, planning, and implementing your goals today and every day.
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