Now I don't know about you, but I'm not normally a New Year's Resolutions sort of gal. The negativity that surrounds them, in that few succeed, is hardly the most motivating thing in the world for starters, and then I don't know what I want to change when I do want to make one.
However, this year, as I set up my diary for the year ahead, I had a brain wave. A new way to do resolutions in a way that (hopefully) suits me. I'm calling it:
Mini-resolutions.
Catchy I know...
Because, honestly, just saying: "I want to loose weight" gets you no-where. If you have never eaten healthily or done a lot of exercise before now, it's a huge change to attempt to make over night, and a massive shock to your body. It's also not very specific. Ignoring the lack of a numerical amount you want to loose, where's the how?
This, I think, highlights two of the main issues with resolutions - they are often too big, and ignore the how.
This is where my 'system' steps in.
It's a project in development, granted, and if I do a follow up post at the end of the year, I'm sure it will have changed, but this is what we're starting with:
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| It will also look prettier once I get a better diary, instead of using a notebook I found from 2008... |
So how does it work?
Well, to start things off, you need to break down what you want to do into 12 steps. In my case, there is no over arching goal, but mini-things I want to change. I haven't even thought of them all yet, so I've allowed space for sparks of inspiration later in the year.
Then dedicate each goal or habit to a month. If you are aiming for an overall end goal, then start with the smallest in January and work your way up. If you have a varied list of changes you want to make, then choose and easier goal or what you are most looking forward to doing for January. If you can complete January, it will set you up in a more positive mindset for the rest of the year.
Next to each change, write how you are going to achieve each goal. Be as specific as you can, and be sure to write a detailed explanation, such as the steps of a new morning routine, on a separate piece of paper to put up near to where the new habit will be carried out, to act as a reminder. The more specific, the less thinking required when it comes to doing it - who hasn't done something because they're not 100% sure what they're doing so spend all their time thinking about a task instead of doing it.
Finally, create a tracker for the initial length of time you are doing the task, before you add the next one. This will allow you to keep track of your new habit, by ticking off even day that you complete.
It takes on average 66 days to form a habit. By giving you a month to slowly build up new habits and changes, you should have acclimatised to one habit enough by the end of a month to allow a new one to be added. Go for 66 days before adding the next habit if you wish, but I am very impatient so this should stop me from getting bored...
This method also paces yourself. Like I just said, I am very impatient and could go all guns blazing into this, changing up my hand washing, drinking gallons of water, and stretching before bed all in one day, but that's a lot of change to implement each day if it's all new, meaning it is more likely to end up in failure - hopefully this method will stop this from happening.
I hope this New Year's Resolution method will help you stick to any changes you are making to your life in 2019. Do share photos of your trackers with me on instagram (@rougebyjunekonrad) using the hashtag #miniresolutions and keep me updated on your progress - GOOD LUCK!
What New Year's Resolution(s) are you making this year?
June xx
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