Three years ago, I did a post on “the demise of your New Year’s resolutions.” I used to think that one goal that takes all year – and usually doesn’t come to fruition for most people – was overrated. Instead, I would choose a specific goal to focus on for each month. However, over time, I’ve learned that maybe they’re not that bad after all. I mean, everyone needs goals in life, right? Why not choose a specific time of year to make and implement those goals?
For 2020 (man, can you believe it’s almost a new decade already?!), I’ve decided to use my monthly goals ritual to tackle a New Year’s resolution. Most people slack off on their resolutions because they don’t have a plan. “I’m going to lose weight” or “I’m going to quit smoking” is followed by a few weeks of trying out one solution, it not working immediately, and the person gives up. But the best way to accomplish any long-term goal is to have short-term goals that you can easily meet. Sometimes, the short-term goals need smaller steps to be reached.
My resolution for the coming year is to focus on self care. Many business owners, salespeople, and other hardworking professionals struggle with taking care of themselves. Most of them have lives outside of the office, which make it even harder. Trust me, I know. Between BigPromotions, kids, homeschooling, writing my next book, and helping run a political campaign, the world seems to revolve around what other people need from me. But I finally know what I need from myself, especially since self care actually helps with success. So if you, too, need to tackle the task of self care but you don’t know where to start, here’s my breakdown for the year. Feel free to use some (or all!) of these ideas to take care of your own self and business:
January: early mornings – wake up before the kids, do yoga and meditation
February: drink water daily – yuk!
March: eat healthier – such as home cooked meals a couple times a week
April: exercise daily – even if it’s just a walk around the block
May: journal daily – using writing prompts that you can find online is a great way to start
June: build a better budget – this one will probably require some help from others
July: meet new people – maybe join a book club
August: keep my emotions in check – I’m a huge fan of dialectical behavior therapy (or DBT)
September: delegate tasks – I think the kids should help out around the house more
October: volunteer – I’ll be getting my kids involved in this one too
November: weekly cultural event – museums, historical events, plays, etc.
December: learn something new everyday – there are apps and newsletter where you can receive a daily fact, although I’m also thinking of taking a class
So there you have it. New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be the nightmare that they sometimes seem to be. You simply need to have a plan and the get-up-and-go to reach those goals. Maybe consider the buddy system, as well. Having a partner can be a fantastic motivator for both people involved.
I would love to hear what YOUR resolution is! Hit us up on social – Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram – and let us know. After the new year, I’ll feature my favorite resolutions!
