Key points for guaranteed success on our New Year’s resolutions:
- If you’ve made a formal New Year’s resolution, you’re more likely to make progress on the matter than someone who doesn’t.
- If you can make it through January applying your resolution, you have a good chance of progress lasting longer.
- With proven strategies and some digital tools you can really increase your odds of success.
The New York Times recently had a great article by Times columnist John Tierney. He and Roy F Baumeister have coauthored “Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength.” Contrary to conventional beliefs, their research supports that you are ten times more likely to change by making a New Year’s resolution than non-resolvers!
Here are the key steps and actions to help you, as determined through Tierney and Baumeister’s research:
- Set clear goals (less is more).
- Pre-commit; bind yourself to taking action (e.g. put money at risk on your resolution).
- Outsource self control by getting help from a support team.
- Keep track of your results.
- Don’t overreact to a lapse.
- Reward yourself on progress often.
Character Move:
- In my January 3rd blog I suggested three practical and specific improvement resolutions regarding making progress in applying The Character Triangle (CT). Determine the CT resolution best for you.
- Write it down and be very specific in defining the resolution. Make progress clear and measurable.
- Apply the support ideas in this blog to help you translate your resolution into a successful habit.
Successful resolutions in The Triangle,
Lorne