It’s a proven phenomenon that gym memberships explode
at the beginning of the year. Why? Because many people take the arrival of 365
brand new days as an opportunity to make some changes in their lives. New
Year’s resolutions around getting in shape, losing weight, and feeling better
about ourselves often translate into trotting down to the local gym and signing
up for a membership.
Of course it’s also a proven phenomenon that the majority of
those resolutions go by the wayside after a month or two. “I’m going to get
into shape!” turns into “I’m really too tired to go to the gym,” and 67 percent
of those who sign up for a gym membership never bother to show up.
The coming New Year means that a lot of us will be making
New Year’s resolutions about a lot of things—losing weight, doing better in
school, being nicer to the people around us. It’s a great idea to be committed
to something, to make a promise to ourselves and to others to improve and to be
better people. But commitment without follow
through is like tea without water—you only have half the ingredients you need
for success.
If you’re among the millions of people who will make a New
Year’s resolution this year, be sure you’re doing it the right way. Don’t just
make a promise, make a commitment. As the old joke goes, if you want to
understand the difference between involvement and commitment, consider a plate
of eggs and bacon: the chicken was involved; the pig was committed.
So, how do we move from making a promise to ourselves to
being fully committed to carrying it out? Here are five tips for making—and
keeping—a successful New Year’s resolution. And, the best part is, you don’t
have to wait until the new year to start putting this discipline into place in
your life!
Set realistic goals
Rather than saying to yourself, “I’m going to run a marathon
tomorrow!” Set a goal to start running a short distance every day, and to
increase that distance every month. If you start out running a mile, by the
time the next new year arrives, you could very well be in shape for that
marathon you dream of.
Keep a record of your
progress
Nothing succeeds like success, and seeing your progress
documented on paper (or your laptop) will help you see how far you’ve come. As
you track and review your progress to your goal or goals, remember: it’s
progress, not perfection. Be gentle with yourself.
Work with someone
else
Most of us can lie to ourselves, but we find it a lot harder
to be dishonest with a friend. If you’re looking to lose weight, find a buddy
who shares your goal and let him know you want to work together. Make an
agreement that you will share your progress, your challenges, your victories
and your pitfalls honestly and without any judgment. Having someone else to
work with and be accountable to is an incredible motivator—for BOTH of you!
Use technology
There are a variety of software applications available to
help you create, track, update, and maintain goals of just about any variety.
If your goals involve fitness, consider adding a “fit bit” to your tech
arsenal. These tiny devices track your workouts and send results right to your
smart phone, tablet, or computer so you can aggregate and review your results
in real time.
So, make big, hairy, awesome goals in 2015 and be sure to
keep them (at least a few)! Remember:
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to
put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first
chapter is New Year's Day.”
Happy New Year!
