I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved the hope, promise and possibility associated with a new year.
But let’s be honest, New Year’s resolutions have a history of failure, often only lasting a couple of days or weeks at most.
So how do we approach the new year in a way that nourishes our body, nourishes our mind and helps us achieve the goal?
Why resolutions fail
But first, let’s talk about why traditional New Year’s resolutions fail.
Because if we don’t address why resolutions fail, come midnight you’ll fall back into old patterns, and be tempted to make a resolution for the new decade.
Resolutions fail because 1. we often make them after a cocktail…am I right?!
2. they often come from a place of lack. As in, we’re beating ourselves up or we’re comparing ourselves to other people, or where we think we should be.
And 3. we make them so darn big and lofty.
What’s more successful than a NY’s resolution?
So for 2020, for the new decade here’s what I encourage you do to increase your chance of success.
1. Make a micro-commitment to do one thing every day.
Forget about doing 10 new things, or lofty ideas like ‘be kinder’ or ‘be more active’.
Make a micro-commitment to do one thing every day.
For example, it might be “I commit to moving my body for three minutes every day.
Yes – I get it – it sounds a bit dull but making one micro-commitment to yourself blows away our three commonest excuses, namely “I’m too tired”, “I don’t have time” and “I’m too busy”.
Every one, no matter how busy you are, can do something active for three minutes every day.
If you’re travelling you could walk up the airport stairs for three minutes. If you’re a stay at home mum, you can chase your child around the garden for three minutes. You can do yoga every day for three minutes. You can do something every day to move your body for three minutes.
We can accomplish any goal – if we break the journey into small enough steps.
I know a daily micro-commitment isn’t very grand-sounding. But it’s achievable, it’s do-able.
Or, another example, instead of saying, I want to be kinder – while a lovely goal, it’s too big and lofty and hard to measure.
Whereas when you frame as every day I commit to one act of kindness. Boom – you have control over that. It’s do-able and achievable.
So do you see the difference? The lofty goal vs the one daily micro-commitment to yourself.
So please please please, ditch the lofty NY’s resolutions.
And make a micro-commitment instead.
I want to tell you – just in case nobody else has told you this recently – I believe in you, I believe in your ability to create the changes that you desire. You are here to make a difference. I’m here to remind you that there’s greatness inside of you, and if you get deliberate with micro-commitments, you can achieve it.
And if you’d like help with your 2020 goals, I’m here to support you. The doors to Lighten Up, my online weight loss programme for women, open shortly.