Hack your New Year's Resolutions

Life has a peculiar way of laying waste to goals and trite new year's resolutions we often set for ourselves. In the process, we feel we've failed to meet our obligations and, as a result, lose sight of why we've set them in the first place. Effectively, New Year's Resolutions, as we understand them, may often hinder our growth rather than inspire it. So how do we avoid these pitfalls? And what actions can we take to realise our set goals fully?

Forming habits vs setting goals

We need to realise that the issue isn't that we're too lazy or unmotivated but more the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves when we brazenly declare that next year is the year to stop smoking or to visit that place we've always wanted to see.

During the pandemic, our socials were flooded with tips on planning our kids for online schooling or setting a routine for the "new" normal we found ourselves living in. While these videos and tips may seem surface-level at best, there is a nugget of wisdom in maintaining motivation while stuck at home. We found that adapting to a new normal meant setting new habits; therein lies the trick. 

When we set goals, we often focus on the result while neglecting the daily habits we need to change to effect these desired achievements. Forming a habit is our conscious effort to initialise a set of routine behaviours until it becomes a natural pattern. If we focus on changing our habits, those lofty goals may be more attainable than we realise. Plenty of resources are available to help us combine psychology and neuroscience with helping us implement these new habits: from apps such as Habitica and StickK to podcasts by Mel Robbins and The Happiness Lab to help bolster us.

The benefits of planning goals and time management

"A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at." -Bruce Lee.

The simple fact is achieving your goals rests solely upon you. Understanding HOW to plan your goals and forming the proper habits to achieve them is half the battle won. Goal planning is more than a new years resolution and does not rely on the planet's full rotation to be affected or initiated.

Consider building a roadmap of activities you know are vital to your goals and create a daily list of what you need to accomplish while accounting for time management. Time management is crucial and will help you tackle obstacles in your path more effectively.

Five practical questions to ask yourself when planning

As with most journeys, the first step is always the hardest. So to ensure that you're treading the right path, here is a list of questions to ask yourself.

• What specific actions or courses are required to achieve your goal?
• What are the variants or resources required to achieve said goal?
• (Goal Planning) What is your plan? And how do you see yourself achieving this goal?
• (Time Management) Estimating how much time investment you can set aside to achieve your goal? For example, if you practised the piano only 10 minutes a day, is it realistic to assume you'll be a maestro within a year?
• Consider the potential roadblocks and how you will resolve these.

Don't be afraid to explore your goals

One final piece of insight - Perhaps the biggest issue with New Years' Resolutions is that we often give up on them before January ends. Rather than diving straight into it, rather spend at least one month exploring what it means to achieve your goals and what actions are required to get there. This forms part of your planning process.

Take a look at those who have achieved similar goals, and attempt to model their planning similarly to suit your needs. Remember, it's not about the destination but the journey to get there. So when things don't work out quite how you planned them, and "when you feel like quitting, think about why you started" - anonymous.

Best wishes from all of us to all of you, may your new year contain all you wish for it!

Read our previous article here: 
 
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