Will you fail the one thing everyone wants to succeed at?

Before the confetti even hits the ground, most people around the world will fail at this one thing…

New Year’s Resolutions!

I gave up on these “irresolutions” years ago – basically, because I failed so miserably at them!

It feels like such an old-school way of achieving your goals or changing your life. Most people (like me) have fallen off the bandwagon by the end of January and are back to their old tricks.

The University of Scranton reports just 8 per cent of people achieve their New Year’s goals, and around 80 per cent fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions.

In fact, there is a date set out for us by which time we will have forgotten all about the resolutions we made.

New research: According to Strava, the social network for athletes, before the first month of 2020 has ended, most people will already have given up on their annual commitment to themselves.

Research conducted by the fitness platform has predicted that Sunday, 19 January 2020 is the fateful day. (News.com)

We all have good intentions, but without a proper plan in place to achieve them, there’s no hope!

What is the difference between a resolution, a goal, and an intention?

? Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something.

? Goal: the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.

? Intention: a thing intended; an aim or plan.

(Source: Oxford Dictionary)

Did you know?

Goals are focused on the future. Intentions are set in the present moment. Goals are a destination or specific achievement. Intentions are lived each day, independent of achieving the goal or destination. (The Power of TED, by David Emerald Womeldorff)

I now prefer to set intentions – call them my New Year’s Intentions – as, for me, an intention becomes a way of life and the change happens more effortlessly and easily.

For example, when I moved to Cairns, I had decided long beforehand that I would lose the weight that had crept on slowly over the years.

When I got here, I knew my intention. I wanted to lose 10kg in 3 months. It was helpful that Mum also had the same intention and I had a buddy. But I found the diet that would work for me, increased my exercise, reduced my calories, took out most sugar, alcohol and processed carbs, and started visualising how I would feel. I found two items of clothing (a new pair of jeans and a dress) that I wanted to fit into – and off I went. I also did some hypnosis and meditation around achieving my goals and doing the things I didn’t want to do.

Basically, I set the intention, which is another word for a decision (I want to lose weight), created the goal (10kg in 3 months), found a strategy that would work for me (diet, lifestyle and exercise), took action (did it daily, even if I didn’t want to) and got a result.

8kg in 10 weeks.

I’m still on track, even with Christmas!

It’s easy for me to write that now, but it can be easier written than done, too. So here is how I set my intentions to achieve my goals. I’ll be doing this with my personal life and also within my business this year.

How to set your resolutions, intentions or goals for 2020 so you actually achieve them:

1. Get in the fright frame of mind – check in with yourself, get clear, meditate and visualise.
2. Choose your focus words for the year. (I usually choose one to three words; in 2019 it was ‘automate’, ‘delegate’ and ‘organise’ with systems. All of my intentions, goals and business decisions were based on these three words.)
3. Set your intentions based on these focus words; that is, make the decisions.
4. Set your goal; that is, set what you plan to do in a specific timeframe with a certain result. Be very specific with what you want to achieve.
5. Write it all down like you have already achieved it.
6. Get your plan in place. How will you achieve each one of your intentions? If you don’t know, go through the five Ws and the H – who, what, when, where, why, and how. Who can help you, what do you need, what are you good at and where do you need help, when do you want to get this done, why are you doing it, and how can you use what you’ve got already?
7. Map your plan on a timeline.
8. Put all of your action steps into Asana with dates.
9. Keep checking on your milestones and KPIs. For example, weigh yourself each week to see how much weight you have lost.

A few tips that may help

? Talk about your goals with your friends and family and share them on your social channels.

? Write them down and put the list somewhere that you can see it. Remember: out of sight, out of mind!

? Don’t let setbacks stop you. They are just learning curves and experiences that you need at that point in time.

? Ask for help when you need it.

? Check in with yourself and your intentions regularly.

? Have fun!

Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2020 with an abundance of opportunities and everything you set your mind and intentions to!

Liz