New Year's Resolutions

Note:  This post was originally published last January, but I felt it was worth reiterating.  I know I needed a refresher course!

I'm curious to know how many of you have made resolutions?  What were they about?  Perhaps more interesting to know would be how many have already broken theirs.  I'm sure there are a few, but take heart!  I'm going to share with you what I've found to be a better solution and may just be the motivation you need to try again. 

Let me clarify that I'm not totally against resolutions.  I love a fresh start as much as the next person and I'm big on goal-setting.  However, I think that making big sweeping statements like, "I'm going to lose weight/be a better wife/read the Bible more" just set us up for failure.  We're human.  Life happens.  Willpower wains.  We get sick, busy, and tired.  We quit.  Take this blog for example. :)

So this year, why not try doing something different?  Though we're already a few days in, it's not too late!

Here are three easy steps to better ensure your success:

1.  Set aside ten to fifteen minutes of time each Saturday or Sunday to think of 1-5 (no more) areas you'd like to improve in your life, then prioritize the list.  If weekly is too frequent, try monthly instead.  Here is an example:

1. Spend more time with kids
2. Improve marriage
3. Lose weight
4. Get organized
5. Save more money

Now that's a pretty daunting list, isn't it?  I'm overwhelmed just looking at it.  Hang with me, though, because the next step is the most important.
2.  For each area, write 1-2 (no more) specific things you can do that would help move you closer to attaining those goals.  For instance,

1. Spend more time with kids:  Eat dinner together on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Have a game night on Thursday.
2. Improve marriage:  Leave a short love note for him on Monday.  Schedule a date for Saturday.
3. Lose weight:  Exercise on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  Throw out Christmas candy.
4. Get organized:  Clean out coat closet on Wednesday night.
5. Save more money: Call the insurance company on Monday about raising deductible.

Now, isn't that better?  That to-do list looks a bit more manageable, doesn't it?  Of course, there are still a lot of items on it, but I wanted to give you some solid examples of several common resolutions and how to break them down into more bite-size pieces.  

This simple method won't guarantee you'll keep those resolutions until 2013, but I can say with pretty good certainty that you're more likely to get farther this way.  And remember...

3.  Celebrate a good week, but move on quickly from a set-back.  Some weeks and months are going to go better than others, but don't quit!  Just hang on to the same list of to-dos for the next week and try again. 

If do you succeed in checking it all off, revel in that for half a second and take the family bowling one night.  It'll help with example goals 1, 2, and 3!  Just be sure to clip a coupon and hang your coats up neatly when you get home.