Navigating Resolution Roadblocks: 7 Keys to Success You May Not Know About
It's that time of year again. Three weeks into the new year, and chances are the resolutions you or someone you know made have hit a few bumps – maybe even veered off course and landed in the proverbial ditch. Fear not! Here are seven insights that, when applied together, can significantly boost your chances of success by 200-400%.
This time, add details
People often set resolutions without making it specific – the when, where, what, and even the time for preparation. Adding these details creates a roadmap for your brain, organizing your thoughts for successful execution. Pay attention to the details, and watch your plan come to fruition.
Break it down
Don't underestimate the power of breaking down your big goal into smaller, achievable steps. These small steps build on each other, making success the next natural progression. Remember the adage: How do you summit a mountain? One step at a time.
Forward thinking wins. Schedule it
Setting a goal is just the beginning; organizing and scheduling the week's activities – the time, location, and what you're doing – is crucial. This turns intentions into actions. And when you trip up on a given day. Simply reschedule your activity, and you still win.
Foresee challenges. Develop a back-up plan
Obstacles are inevitable. After setting your goal, identify three potential challenges you may encounter and then devise a specific backup plan for each. Writing them down is crucial. Now, you're set for success.
Trip-ups are opportunities
It's normal to trip up when pursuing new habits or goals. Instead of getting disheartened, understand that it's part of the process. Thomas Edison learned from over 500 failures before he finally created the first lightbulb. So when you trip up, go to your backup plan (you just created in #4) and build for that lightbulb moment of success.
Plan for having to miss a workout
Acknowledge that missing a workout may happen. What's your backup plan? Decide in advance the steps you'll take to make up for it.
You stopped? Time to reflect
Every resolution encounters challenges, and over 60% of individuals face difficulties in the initial weeks. The solution is to reflect on what happened – whether it's expecting too much, desiring quick results, insufficient planning, scheduling issues, or external factors beyond your control. Once identified, course-correct, recommit, and simply get started again.
Call to Action
Now, it's time to get started. Begin with baby steps, experience small successes, and build on them. When you trip up, remember you're only human – even Thomas Edison faced setbacks before inventing the lightbulb.
Regarding your goal: Keep it realistic, make it personal, and share your commitment with someone else. And here's a tip from my time on the Canadian national team: every morning, stand in front of a mirror, look yourself in the eye, and affirm your commitment. It's more effective than you might think.
In Summary
Take four minutes and identify specifics, start small and go tall, foresee challenges, build a backup plan, document it, and recognize your progress. As you pursue your resolutions, keep in mind the importance of personal commitment and accountability. Make it a daily habit to reaffirm your goals, learn from setbacks, and celebrate your successes. With the right mindset and these strategies in place, you'll find yourself continuing to make progress on your resolution journey.
After all, it's that time of year again.
