8 New Year’s Resolutions We Can All Benefit From

Let’s be honest. You didn’t achieve your New Year’s resolutions in 2018, right? Want to know how we know it?

Research shows that only 8% of people actually achieve their NY’s resolutions. With that being said, statistically, 92% of us who make these kind of decisions – simply fail.

However, this time of the year inspires us all to reflect and figure out ways to improve – so we do it again and again, year after year.

But did you ever wonder why we give up so easy on these agreements we “swear” to stick to?

Maybe they are too illusory. Or too ambitious. Maybe our decisions are not so serious and constructive. Either way, we must find a new method for NY’s resolutions. Something that will change this sad statistic of 92% failure.

For starters, let’s make some new goals. Something practical and easy to define and understand.

Here you have our 8 proposals. Choose one, few or all!

1. I WILL BE MORE PROACTIVE.

Make this year special. Implement the proactive mode to everything. From cooking to work.

If you always wanted to master sushi making, do it. If you crave more autonomy (and thus – creativity), negotiate for flexibility at work.

Whatever you chose to upgrade, just go for it.

2. I WILL INVEST IN MYSELF.

Nothing is the same forever. Everything is changing and so should you. As your career progresses, more is required of you so you must have your skills and expertise adapted to any change that comes your way. While at it, don’t try this alone. You will need support and don’t be shy to ask for it. Enroll your boss to develop you and advocate for your next step. Read everything you get your hands on about a professional development, go to conferences and nurture your knowledge. Never stop doing that.

3. I WILL BE SMARTER (MONEY WISE).

This is very, very, very important. As you must know if you haven’t mastered this skill yet. It’s the time to change that and start enjoying the freedom a smart money handling will provide for you.

We have 3 simple tricks:

• Save 15% of your gross income.
• Invest monthly. For this, you really don’t need a lot of money. Try some of the apps that will let you invest with just five dollars or less. They make it so easy for you to automate. Don’t miss out on that.
• Track expenses daily. Daily. All of your expenses. Even that coffee to go or a new pen you bought.

4. I WILL PRAISE MY BOUNDARIES.

Pay close attention of who and what deserves your time, energy, and attention. And after you do so and the company closes its door for the day, just focus on family and personal commitments.

5. I WILL FOCUS ON PROGRESS, AND PROGRESS ONLY.

Even if the goal is not even visible from where you are standing, do not quit. Just go forward and think about your progress, rather than the final destination. Think about what you have learned on the way and what mistakes you will skip the next time. Every step counts and each one is a part of the progress.

 6. I WILL MAKE MY GOALS SPECIFIC.

Make your goals specific. When you say that you will lose some weight, what does it mean? You will start a diet, you will jog or you will drink more water? Be specific when setting a goal, it might help achieve it.

7. I WILL BE PATIENT.

No further explanation necessary.

8. I WILL BUILD ON WHAT I’VE ALREADY STARTED.

Look at the past for insight into what you can improve. It is so much easier than starting from scratch. Think about the things that worked well and re-use its methodology. It is all about creating a new habit. Of course, it is easier when you have already-existing habits that can be upgraded.

As a matter of fact, almost every NY’s resolution is about creating or eliminating some habits.

While we at it, let’s see what a behavioral psychologist says in Psychology Today, what are the 3 things we must do to create a new habit:

1. Pick a small action. Allow us to elaborate. “I will get in shape by the summer” is not a small action. “I will go for a walk every day, for at least 30 minutes” is.
2. Attach the new action to a previous habit. Choose some well-established habit and just upgrade it. If you already walk every day, just add 10 more minutes. As simple as that!
3. Make the new action EASY to do for at least the first week. The first week is the hardest one, you need to practice the new habit from the existing stimulus 3 to 7 times before it finally “stick”.

So, the bottom line?

Make some NY’s resolution and do your best to stick to it.