I love the fresh start each new year brings.
Like many people, I certainly spent years making New Year’s Resolutions, only to find that I failed to keep them. Sometimes I’d even make (and fail at) the same resolution over multiple years! Sound familiar?
Today, I no longer make resolutions the same way. The changes I made to how I think about this time of year helps me stay connected to my desires all year long. This translates into acting in ways that help me achieve what I dream of!
Here are 5 do’s and don’ts for your New Year planning:
| # | Don’t . . . | Instead . . . |
| 1 | Notice all the things that had gone wrong in the prior year, thinking “good riddance!”. This is presently in-fashion, and it’s not productive or useful. | If you faced challenges this past year, consider what lessons you learned, who you met, what positive outcomes came as a result, and be grateful for them. Say goodbye to the prior year with respect. Ask (and express readiness for) experiences that will take you to the next level as a person. |
| 2 | Make a laundry list of goals or resolutions you can easily turn into obligations, tasks or “must not’s”. E.g. “I need to fall asleep faster, so I have to do 30-minutes of yoga every night before going to bed.” | Ask yourself what it is you most wish or desire for yourself: what is the outcome you truly want? E.g. “I’d like to wake feeling refreshed in the morning and have consistent energy throughout the day.” |
| 3 | Take action on your intention and schedule your activities immediately. E.g. Sign up for a gym membership on January 1 because you intend to move more (and there’s that special deal!). | Find some quiet time to be with your intention, so you can discover more (potentially better) options. E.g. Perhaps learning to dance, trying Tai Chi, finding a hiking group, or learning to swim, or trying yoga would be a more enjoyable way to move more. |
| 4 | Commit to doing everything all at once or for a really long period of time. You may have multiple intentions that are fantastic! Maybe you’re a great multi-tasker. You may be highly motivated: for NOW. | Commit to doing ONE thing, for less time than you think you can and for a short period of time. E.g. I’ll be starting on a new project this year at work, which requires a different schedule. For the first week I’ll pay attention to how the new hours affect my morning routine. Then I’ll play with some adjustments to keep what I really need to feel ready for the day. |
| 5 | Meticulously track yourself and beat yourself up if you don’t do exactly what you’d planned. Does telling your colleague, your pet, your significant other, etc. they suck because they neglected to do something make them want to do it next time? | By all means track–I use a simple check-mark on a wall calendar–so you have an idea of what you’re actually doing. At the end of the week, gently remind yourself of your intention and why you want the outcome. If you notice you’re not doing what you want, try again. If after a few weeks you don’t feel internally motivated, perhaps what you really want is something else (and that’s OK!). |
What are YOUR intentions for the new year?
