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Happy New Year!

12/31/2013

Are you making any resolutions for 2014? Research shows that 40 to 45 percent of us start the New Year with a new resolve. As long as they are realistic, New Year’s resolutions can help us reach our goals. But it probably won’t surprise you to learn that many people—one U.K. study says as many as 78 percent—fail to follow through.

Some suggest that a good way to stick to your resolutions is to read them aloud each morning to yourself. Writing in the Huffington Post, journalist Delia Lloyd takes this a step further, suggesting that we say our resolutions aloud to others—the idea being that this will make us more likely to commit.

We agree that saying our resolutions aloud to others tends to make us feel more accountable and spurs self-discipline. Supportive friends, family, or co-workers can cheer us along and "going public" may give us that extra ounce of inspiration we need when will power wears thin.

Please share your experience with our Community of Practice: How are you planning to break old habits and set new goals? And whom are you telling? Share your responses to the weekly discussion question on our forum: Community of Practice Forum

9 Comments

Fabienne Peter-Contesse

12/31/2013 01:41:53 am

I've never been a fan of New Year's resolutions even as I yearn to make them as the calendar turns over. What makes me think I'll be any more successful on January 1st than on April 12th? This year I read about choosing a guide word instead and have embraced this concept (you can read about it on Christine Kane's website, not sure if this link will embed. http://christinekane.com/you-say-you-want-a-resolution%E2%80%A6/).

I sat with several words last week and found one that resonates for many areas of my life - Flexibility. In my relationships I want to be less judgmental of people who think and do things differently than me, in my work I want to roll with the punches and not get worked up when things change, in my art I want the ability to take my work whatever direction it needs to go without being self critical, in my health I want a strong, limber body.

Flexibility has already started to become my mantra for 2014, I'll let you know how it goes. Happy New Year!

susan glaser

12/31/2013 04:05:38 am

This is a very Wow idea for me, Fabienne. Is it cheating to take your mantra and your examples and use them as my own? (Would have to omit the art part:)

1/7/2014 02:34:35 am

You can take whatever works for you! I have to say that only a week into 2014 and I have had the opportunity to chant "flexibility" more times that I expected, and it's working.

Deb Robinette

12/31/2013 04:01:24 am

It occurs to me every year at this time that I have been successful in some things I resolved to do January 1st. There are often resolutions I have not been successful in accomplishing.

When I consider my successful resolutions and those that are unsuccessful, without variation the difference boils down to one thing. I am successful at the things I set as a goal, and I am not successful when I do not form a goal. By that I mean, I set a goal when I state an outcome, give a date, state the steps I am going to take and the goal is measurable. Here is an example of what I mean:
" I am going to lose 20 pounds by June 1st. I will eat breakfast everyday, have 3 meals every day, not eat after 6pm at night and drink 96 oz of water. I will record my daily intake and only weigh myself once a week on Friday morning."

When I fail in my resolution it is invariably because I have not made a goal, I have merely stated a dream. Dreams do not have specific steps, are not measurable and do not have timelines.

2014 will start with a resolution of purpose that I will carefully craft into a gaol statement and share with my 2 children at home, my 4 co-workers and also carry a copy of in my wallet.

As I realize each step that will lead to my goal I will celebrate that success - success breeds success.

12/31/2013 04:17:45 am

Great distinction, Deb -- between a dream and a goal. Cool how you could even do this with the act of making a resolution! Thanks for this.

Merry link

12/31/2013 06:05:19 am

I usually never make resolutions, but this year I am going to set some goals - as Deb mentioned. With specific timelines.
I am making some changes in myself, my life, my home, and my habits. I decided I would do these things for myself, not for anyone else. It is never too late to change things, or I hope not.

1/4/2014 01:35:44 pm

Let us know how this goes Merry. Definitely never too late to make changes that are important to you.

1/6/2014 02:49:08 am

Thanks Susan. I am already putting things in motion and changing things in my office and at home. I started seeing a therapist, and dealing with some issues from the past that are affecting me now in ways I did not realize. I like to procrastinate, and I lost a lot of organizational skills when I had a very high fever many years ago.
I was blessed to live, and to save my leg and almost all my mental functioning. ( I had Strep A, with 107 to 105 degree temps for 6 days.)
Organizational skills are needed to keep things going smoothly at home and at the office of course. I am setting goals to work on ways to compensate and build systems to keep things organized as they need to be. I am also committing myself to a better health and exercise program. At 66 I can definitely feel the impact of every dumb thing I did when I was younger. lol Growing up on a ranch, I threw thousands of hay bales, broke horses, and worked cattle.
Every extra pound I still have to lose is more noticeable too, when joints are wearing out and hurting.
I like the idea Deb proposed, of setting definite goals and timelines in which to meet them. I am working on setting mine up now.
I do believe she has a great system and one that will be more accountable. My goals are a clean, neat, organized office and system for handling my job; a clean, neat, organized home that functions better than the current one does. I have combined households with my husband, his son, and with the things from my late husband that I still have. The house is not large enough for that. My goal is to give away at least half to three quarters of what is in the house. Being of a generation that was raised not to waste anything that can be used, I find giving to a women's shelter, the Salvation Army, or the DAV makes it easier for me to let go of things. Clearly communicating the goals and timelines to the people in my life is important too I can see. It will enable them to support and assist as needed. Thanks again Deb for sharing your comment and ideas!

1/6/2014 02:49:21 am

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