Fri, January 15, 2010 - 4:46:48

New Year’s Revisions

It’s been two weeks since we welcomed in 2010, and now that all of the champagne has gone flat, the decorations have been stowed away, and we’ve all settled back into the daily grind, you might be starting to break those New Year’s resolutions you so optimistically proclaimed as the clock struck twelve.  In fact, you might not know it, but January 17th is actually the official day for giving up New Year’s Resolutions.  But, you don’t have to renege on those promises you made yourself.  In fact, the key to making your New Year’s resolutions stick may actually be easier than you think: if you want to achieve your biggest goals, all you have to do is start “thinking small.”

Throughout our lives, we’ve been told to dream big, but the problem with setting lofty goals is that they’re often self defeating, especially when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, which usually include ideas like losing weight, quitting smoking, finding a new job, and eliminating debt.  So instead of dropping your resolutions altogether, why not make January 17th the day for a few New Year’s revisions?

Here are a few of our favorite tips for making even your most challenging resolutions work:

Shrink your problem down to size: Instead of setting yourself up for failure with one massive goal, try breaking your resolution down into easily accomplished mini-tasks.  For example, maybe you’ve decided that 2010 is the year you’re going to beat the “battle of the bulge” once and for all.  But after just a few weeks of crash dieting and non-stop cardio, giving up probably seems tempting.  So, instead of making your goal to get back to your high school weight, try revamping your resolution and vow to shed just one pound at a time.  By setting more manageable milestones, like eating just 100 calories less per day, you’ll feel proud instead of perturbed every time you step on the scale.

Make a checklist: Sure, a checklist can help you get through a busy day at the office and avoid impulse buys at the grocery store, but it can also help you stay on track when working toward a greater objective, like finding a new job.  To begin, list out everything you need to do before heading out on the job hunt, from updating your resume, to creating a LinkedIn account, to researching companies in your area, and networking with old contacts.  By writing everything down and organizing it in order of priority, you’ll be sure you won’t miss any important steps.

Don’t dwell on the negative: Inevitably, there will be times when each of us slips up and doesn’t hold true to our New Year’s promise, but that doesn’t mean you should accept defeat.  Instead of dwelling on the negative, let it inspire you to do better next time and move on.

And most importantly…

Celebrate your SMALL wins: Whether you’ve skipped your usual 10:30 smoke break for the third day in a row, made an extra payment toward your credit card balance, or even lost one third of a pound, take the time to pat yourself on the back and rejoice in the small stuff…because over time, those little things will add up to BIG progress.

Posted by Linda and Robin