Micro Actions for Steady Growth: How to achieve your goals in 2024.

The year has been off to a good start, and Sarah, once again, has her list of resolutions for the New Year. Last year's resolutions waned after a couple of weeks, but she was determined to do better now. Surprisingly, her best friend Grace kept to her goals and made remarkable lifestyle and career improvements. Sarah admired her friend’s determination and consistency throughout the past year. She could not understand why she could not keep a steady focus on her goals. She was motivated but she somehow was unable to achieve them. Grace’s secret was adopting micro-actions to achieve steady growth in order to accomplish her goals.?

Micro actions refer to small, manageable steps or behaviours that individuals can incorporate into their daily routines to work towards a larger goal. These actions are characterized by their simplicity and feasibility, making them easily achievable on a regular basis. Micro actions are grounded in the idea that consistent, incremental efforts can lead to significant progress and positive change over time. When you set your goals, break them down into small, manageable tasks.

Bad habits repeat themselves because you don’t have the right system to change them. How then can we ensure that we carry out these tasks? We believe adopting the Four Laws of Behaviour Change can help a ton. They are: make it obvious and specific, make it attractive, make it easy and make it satisfying.??

1. Make it obvious and specific.?

A new habit may not be easy to remember so you need to make it obvious. Use intentional strategies to create cues for your actions. For example, Instead of saying I will exercise more this month, you can say, ‘ I will run around my neighbourhood for 30 minutes by 6:30 tomorrow morning.? Or, I will study French for 1 hour by 4 p.m tomorrow at my desk.?

2. Make it attractive.

Associate your intended habit with something positive. Instead of thinking of how challenging running could be, tell yourself you are strengthening your muscles and building a better body. Instead of focusing on how challenging studying might be, tell yourself you are broadening your horizon and being enlightened.?

3. Make it Easy.

Create an environment that makes it easier for you to form a new habit. If you want to exercise, lay out your exercise clothes and shoes. Put them where you will see them. If you want to study, put your study materials within reach. Eliminate things that may make it harder to start and complete that task.?

For example, if you desire to exercise at 6:30 a.m every day, lay out your exercise wear and training kit in a conspicuous place before you sleep the previous day. Then set an alarm for 6:15 a.m. For the French study, make you ring-tune a French song, and put your study material on your coffee table (not on your shelf). Then set an alarm/reminder for the exercise.

4. Make it Satisfying

For a habit to last, it must be satisfying. Create a sustainable short-term interval reward system for achieving the micro action at intervals. So instead of rewarding yourself for achieving the overall goal. Put a reward system for doing the micro-actions.

For example, buying a new shirt after achieving your exercise goals. Rewarding yourself with a treat or an experience after passing the exams you were studying for can also be motivating. Making a goal satisfying increases the chance of the behaviour being repeated.

It is never too late to get back on track with your new year resolution. All you need? is to adopt the micro-actions strategy.. Little changes stack up and go a long way. You may not be able to run a mile today, but you can take ten steps. This year, focus on making small changes towards achieving your goals. Most Importantly:

1. Commit your plans to God. He has a purpose for your life and he can help you accomplish it. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established” - Proverbs. 16:3.

2. Be diligent with your small tasks. If you want to read more, read a page or two daily. If you want to eat healthy, start with taking one fruit. Let’s be intentional about our little steps because they lead to great achievements. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest”- Ecclesiastes 9:10.?

3. Remain positive and determined to make the best of the year.?

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