New Year’s Eve is a time to reflect on our achievements
and failures of the past year and the changes we want
to or need to make in our lives. New Year’s resolutions
are [mostly] half-hearted goals we set for ourselves,
in the hope that it would, by some miracle, “happen”
to us.
Unless you are willing to take specific action towards
achieving your New Year’s resolutions, it will never
just “happen” to you.
Top ten New Year’s
resolution list:
1. Lose weight
2. Get fit
3. Stop smoking
4. Stop drinking alcohol
5. Become debt-free
6. Quality time with family and friends
7. Enjoy life more
8. Learn something new
9. Help others
10. Get organised
| 1.
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Write
your resolution as a significant future event or behaviour.
Say exactly what it is that you will achieve. Define
your resolution (goal) and be very specific. |
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| 2. |
Write
your resolutions in such a way that it can be measured.
For instance, say when
or how much
weight, instead of “I want to lose weight”,
say “I want to lose 10 kilo’s by the 30th
of March 2006.’ This way you can keep track
of your progress much easier. |
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| 3. |
Set
a deadline to achieve your resolutions.
Once you have expressed exactly what you want, you
need to commit to date. This way you act with more
urgency. |
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| 4. |
Create
resolutions, which you can control.
You are in charge. Own it! |
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| 5. |
Always
have an Action Plan. Without a recipe
the cake will flop. Consider all the pitfalls
and obstacles. Write them down as
part of your Action Plan and decide, in writing, how
you will eliminate them. Also consider available resources.
Plot, plan, strategise. |
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| 6. |
Plan
your resolutions – step by step.
Your Action Plan should reflect a step-by-step strategy
with how, when, where, with whom and why results. |
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| 7. |
Decide
on consequences for not working on your Action Plan.
Be accountable. Find yourself a coach or a friend to
whom you can be accountable. |
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| 8. |
Reward
yourself. Decide on rewards for every
(written down) step you reach in your Action Plan. Write
down the reward when you write your Action Plan. Make
sure you have a reward for every
step. You deserve it! |
