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New Year's Resolutions are broken.
They're arbitrary.
They're unrealistic.
They're impractical.
Here is why you should be careful setting resolutions.
Time for a thread
They're arbitrary.
They're unrealistic.
They're impractical.
Here is why you should be careful setting resolutions.
Time for a thread
1/ First, let me confess.
I used to LOVE resolutions. And every year would go the exact same way.
I'd pick four ambitious goals:
- Procrastinate less
- Eat mindfully
- Read more
- Take up photography
And things would immediately head South.
I used to LOVE resolutions. And every year would go the exact same way.
I'd pick four ambitious goals:
- Procrastinate less
- Eat mindfully
- Read more
- Take up photography
And things would immediately head South.
2/ I'd overestimate my time & underestimate life happening.
Mindful eating & photography would fall by the way side.
But hey, I had two left. So we're all good, right?
Wrong.
What happens next is what happens to so many others...
Mindful eating & photography would fall by the way side.
But hey, I had two left. So we're all good, right?
Wrong.
What happens next is what happens to so many others...
3/ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ญ (Procrastinate Less): I'd delete Twitter & IG from my phone and install Self-Control.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ (Read More): I'd ask for book recs, spend $100 on 5-6 and crack one open. I vividly remember @WalterIsaacson's biography of Jobs one year.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ (Read More): I'd ask for book recs, spend $100 on 5-6 and crack one open. I vividly remember @WalterIsaacson's biography of Jobs one year.
4/ But the momentum would wane.
Like 92% of Resolution-setters, I would failโyet again.
I'd start cheating my resolutions.
Add back Twitter, but not IG.
Skip 3 days of reading for "good reason."
Cheats turned into patterns & patterns turned into failures.
Like 92% of Resolution-setters, I would failโyet again.
I'd start cheating my resolutions.
Add back Twitter, but not IG.
Skip 3 days of reading for "good reason."
Cheats turned into patterns & patterns turned into failures.
5/ Why does this happen to so many of us?
And why are Resolutions designed to fail?
THREE very simple reasons:
1) They're arbitrary
2) They're (often) unrealistic
3) They're (often) unattainable
And why are Resolutions designed to fail?
THREE very simple reasons:
1) They're arbitrary
2) They're (often) unrealistic
3) They're (often) unattainable
6/ ๐ช๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฑ:
First, it creates a fixation in our minds that we can't start working towards something any other day, week, month of the year.
Second, we typically make the Resolution quickly without really thinking through how to make it happen.
First, it creates a fixation in our minds that we can't start working towards something any other day, week, month of the year.
Second, we typically make the Resolution quickly without really thinking through how to make it happen.
7/ ๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ป๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฑ:
Because a New Year's Resolution is quite simply building a new habit.
Habits are hard AF to create.
They require focus & behavioral change.
When you make a yearlong goal, you're committing to 365 days of consistency.
Because a New Year's Resolution is quite simply building a new habit.
Habits are hard AF to create.
They require focus & behavioral change.
When you make a yearlong goal, you're committing to 365 days of consistency.
8/ ๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฑ:
Because it disenfranchises you from creating habits moving forward.
Don't be the Alex of old looking to build 4 habits in a year.
It will not happen. I don't care how disciplined you are.
Because it disenfranchises you from creating habits moving forward.
Don't be the Alex of old looking to build 4 habits in a year.
It will not happen. I don't care how disciplined you are.
9/ Let's say you've gotten here & you're still Team Resolution.
That's totally fine.
But let me leave you with 3-steps for setting your Resolution the right way.
That's totally fine.
But let me leave you with 3-steps for setting your Resolution the right way.
10/ 1) ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ๐
Ask yourself, what do you really give a shit about & what will really bring you a sense of fulfillment.
For me, that'd be presence.
Then, I'll set a goal to build habit around being more present with my family & friends.
Ask yourself, what do you really give a shit about & what will really bring you a sense of fulfillment.
For me, that'd be presence.
Then, I'll set a goal to build habit around being more present with my family & friends.
11/ 2) ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ
Create measurable & attainable goals for yourself. Habits are hard. Don't make them harder than they need to be.
Make a 1-week or 1-month goal, not a 1-year goal.
And pick ONE goal not FOUR goals.
Stack the deck in your favor.
Create measurable & attainable goals for yourself. Habits are hard. Don't make them harder than they need to be.
Make a 1-week or 1-month goal, not a 1-year goal.
And pick ONE goal not FOUR goals.
Stack the deck in your favor.
12/ 3) ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ
There are three common ways to hold yourself accountable to your goals.
- People: an accountability buddy
- Money: pay up if you don't put up
- Treats: reward yourself with little gifts if you keep your word
There are three common ways to hold yourself accountable to your goals.
- People: an accountability buddy
- Money: pay up if you don't put up
- Treats: reward yourself with little gifts if you keep your word
13/ I hope you enjoyed this thread on New Year's Resolutions!
If you want more threads like this, shoot me a follow!
If you want more threads like this, shoot me a follow!
14/ If you want to hear my full podcast episode about New Years Resolutions, check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-years-resolutions-are-broken/id1509276485?i=1000504290495
