Ringing In The New Year (2021)

Congrats, we made it to 2021!

There is no doubt that 2020 was a year that threw challenges at us left and right on a small and large scale. As we set out and turn the page, I want to share some things I’ve learned in the past and have experienced with setting new year's resolutions and common pitfalls I see people make.

If you want to make 2021 your best year yet, here’s a couple things to consider:

• You can’t change what’s happened in the past. Think of the new year as a blank slate.
• Think Long Term on the actions you are doing today and how they will either benefit you or hinder you in the future.
• Attach a reason “Why” behind each choice you make.

Here’s a few questions that have made me think deeply about life and if my actions align with my values:

-How do you want to live, and is what you’re currently doing going to create that lifestyle?

-Do you respect yourself enough to do what it takes to create the life you want to live?

-Am I making this choice out of convenience or out of value? (Is this what I want NOW, or what I want MOST) Hint: choose what you want MOST.

If you skimmed those questions, I would recommend rereading them and think deeper about how you are currently thinking and acting and what you are going to change as a result.

Here are some common pitfalls I see people routinely make when setting resolutions or goals:

• People try to go from 0 to 100 without hitting 1 thru 99 first
• People set too large of goals and end up in paralysis mode
• There is a lack of action behind the goals and resolutions set
• There is a lack of plan to execute
• People don’t believe they are capable of achieving their goals
• People aren’t around the right people that support their goals and aspirations
• People are too broad with their goals

Here are ways that have helped me overcome the above list of pitfalls and achieving what I set out:

• When starting from zero our next focus should be getting to one. The best way I’ve found success is starting small and working on incrementally growing my habits.
• It’s okay to set large and aspiring goals, just keep in mind the activity and work you will need to do to achieve that. A lot of times I see people set big goals and don’t think rationally about what they actually need to execute to make things happen. The goal here is progress, not perfection.
• I recommend writing down your goals, and breakdown (Reversengineer) what you need to do to create the results you’re working for. I usually get a second opinion from someone who is unemotionally attached to the goal and get honest feedback.
• Self doubt is one of the largest killers of success. Your voice and mind is who you listen to the most. This I have struggled with so much, and I started implementing self talk in my life that has helped me boost my self-esteem and confidence. You are more capable than you think you are.
• Who you associate will play a larger role than you think with achieving your goals and resolutions. If you have someone questioning you everyday “Why the heck are you doing that, you’ve never done that before, etc.” you are going to struggle a lot, I’ve been there. It’s okay to limit your time with certain individuals who don’t support your goals, but I encourage you to find people who will lift you up and help hold you accountable.
• Be specific with your goals. The generic example - I want to lose weight this year. Okay, well how much? What kind of weight? What are you going to change? When do you want to lose weight by?

Ex: I want to weigh 140 healthy pounds by 12.31.2021

• With this you are subconsciously training your mind to achieve this in a timely manner and helps you stay on track with your choices.

Now that you have some more specific knowledge on goal setting and resolution setting I want to add a few more things to keep in mind. Bear with me.

Consistency is what will yield the most results. What you do on a daily level will compound over time. Your habits will either compound for you or against. It’s always fun and exciting starting something new, but if you start off fast you will eventually skip a few days, that tends to lead to falling completely off leaving you where you started. Remember that you are human, and we are designed to make mistakes, skip a few days, etc. so have grace with yourself, but also hold yourself to a high enough standard that you don’t flat out quit. If you are struggling with staying consistent with a new daily habit, start with 3 days a week and build up to 6-7 days a week over 2-3 months time or whatever you feel comfortable with.

Final thoughts

Give yourself a reward system, make some checkpoints for yourself and celebrate the wins you have, even if they are small. If you find yourself way off course or fall off your habits, know that it is okay. Swallow the pill and start fresh the next day. There’s no sense in beating yourself up, there’s enough of that society can bring to you without you asking for. You can’t change what has already happened, but you can make the choices you want every day moving forward.

Well wishes to you all as you start the new year and set your goals and resolutions. If you need any additional help or specifics, feel free to reach out and I’d be happy to give some additional guidance. Good Luck, Happy New Year, and always here for support!

-Brandon Cote