An obvious but overlooked aspect of new year resolutions..

The new year brings with it the forever popular trend of forming "Resolutions" . Though I firmly believe that everyday is an opportunity to start all over again, I also get the whole idea behind associating a new year with a new start. It is a chance to set new time-bound goals and achieve new milestones.

However, what goes wrong when it comes to adhering to resolutions?

By the end of 2017, I hardly remembered what I had promised to achieve as a part of my new year resolution in the beginning of that year. 2018 was a little better as I was more aware and I actually managed to strike a few tasks off my list. This year has started on a much better note as I am more mindful and have decided to adhere to the most important aspect of resolutions.

To remain #CONSISTENT in the long run

In this article I am putting together a few pointers to ensure that our resolutions actually serve our long term goals. For ease in understanding I am quoting simple examples from a daily life because I believe that the small things one does everyday are critical for holistic and sustainable progress.

Point 1: Take up something only when you are completely convinced about it

For the longest time my parents tried their best to convince me into waking up at 5 A.M. I gave in only to miserably fail each time I tried. I read up on the benefits and watched videos for motivation. Let me tell you, that failed too. A very important reason was because I wasn't fully convinced of the need to wake up at this godforsaken (not anymore) hour. Today I can happily say that on most days if not all, I effortlessly get out of bed at 5 A.M. That is because I accidentally discovered the sheer joy of waking up when the entire world was asleep. It leaves me with some precious time to workout, write, cook and meditate. I know I will stick to it on most days for the longest time because I am convinced about how good I feel doing it and not because someone told me I should.

Point 2: Prioritize the non-negotiable tasks

I have realized this over time, that to maintain consistency it is necessary to plan and prioritize tasks that are non-negotiable. Stating an example of eating healthy and on time - it tops my list of non-negotiable tasks for the day and something I want to do for the rest of my life. It may seem trivial but that's going to be the source of fuel for all the big things I want to achieve. I have a mental priority matrix and I try planning ahead every weekend. My planners and diaries are full of meal plans and grocery shopping lists. Similarly, at work, my day starts with noting down my non-negotiable tasks for the day and I push myself to complete whatever is planned. Consistency is an outcome of planning, prioritizing and regularly practicing the non-negotiable tasks till they become a natural part of your life.

Point 3: Start slow but subject to progressive overload

This actually makes or breaks the deal. Many of us give up on what we started because we either started to fast and burnt out too soon or boredom set in as days passed and things got too easy to keep us engaged. Whether its exercise or a career, the best way to go longer and stronger is to start slow, identify the discomforts, overcome them through point 2 and continue subjecting the body and mind to newer challenges along the way. No one got fitter doing the same exercise at the same intensity forever, that is why exercise science uses a term called "progressive overload". Also, the most successful people are the one's who started slow but always hunted for newer challenges to convert into opportunities.

Point 4: Maintain flexibility and acknowledge progress

The reward or punish cycle that we are so accustomed to is another deal breaker that we need to do away with. The "All or Nothing" approach doesn't help in the long-term because there will be days when priorities will have to re-shuffled. For this reason, it is very important to start knowing fully well that no matter how much we plan and prioritize, there will be days when things won't work out and that after every slip up there will be a chance to get back on track. Just because you missed a deadline, skipped a workout, did not write for sometime, did not wake up on time for a week doesn't mean you have to beat yourself up and completely go off-track. Look for that opportunity to start where you left and be kind enough to acknowledge the progress no matter how insignificant it may seem at first.

We are all work-in-progress, as long as we are better than yesterday and enthusiastic about getting even better tomorrow, its all good! Happy New Year 2019!

I am grateful to all of you for being so encouraging and always providing constructive feedback. The support really keeps me going and takes me a step closer to my dreams. The links to my other articles are below -

1. Life lessons learnt on the running track
2. The balancing act - A working youngster's attempt to a happy life

Happy Reading!

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