Written by: Stephanie Kable, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
This is a classic situation. January 1st, or even a few days earlier, you make a list of your new year’s resolutions: I will eat healthy meals from now on (after the family dinner for New Year’s Eve, of course), I will get up at 6 am every weekday, I will go to the gym regularly, I will learn English 2 hours a day, etc.
Passed January 15 (in the best case scenario), all these good resolutions are forgotten, and your regular habits take over.
This year, it’s going to be different. Let’s see how we can change our habits for the better.
Know your why.
Take some time to reflect on the reasons why you would like to adopt a new habit. The habit itself is usually just the first step to something much bigger. For example, you want to improve your English and will take an English course online. The reason behind it is probably that you want to be ready in case a new job opportunity arises. You feel you need more confidence when you speak English to have a more successful career. No matter what the reason behind your resolution is, make sure you reflect on it and remember your why.
Write your goals and read them every single day.
Writing your goals can help you remember your why and understand what you need to achieve them. You can stick your goals on the wall in the office, and you can put them in a diary or review them daily through morning affirmations. It’s very important to keep the awareness strong. So do what works for you.
Make it a routine, commit to practice on a fixed day at a fixed time.
Now that you know your why and are aware of your goals, it’s time to put your new resolutions into your weekly calendar. Ask yourself the question, if I want to achieve this goal, what should I commit to weekly? If you want to exercise more, let’s put “going to the gym” in your calendar. Ideally, you want to block judgment regularly each week or each day on your schedule. Stick to it for at least 30 days. Once it becomes a routine, you won’t forget about it, it will be part of your habits, and you are less likely to give it up.
Be realistic with your goals.
Many people are so enthusiastic with their new resolutions that they set goals that are completely out of reach. Instead of serving them, it actually causes them to lose motivation and to give up more easily. If you are not an early riser, don’t expect to get up at 5 am every day. Start putting your alarm clock 10 or 15 minutes earlier so that you progressively get into the habit of getting up early.
Celebrate your wins
The journey is more important than the finishing line. Enjoy the process of getting new habits that will change your life forever. Celebrate your wins throughout the journey. If you are on a diet and want to lose 10 kilos, celebrate each kilo you lose. Don’t wait until you reach your ideal weight to be satisfied with your new way of life.
Talk about your goals, have someone accountable for them.
This is something that I find particularly important. When you have a goal, talk about it, don’t keep it to yourself. This way, you will be more committed to it, and you will find support through the people you share it with. Do you want to write a book this year? Make it a public statement. You will feel closer to achieving your goal.
Be careful when you take a break.
We are all human, and sometimes we need to take a break from our goals and our new routines. Maybe because we are on holiday, or maybe because it’s just a bad day, acknowledge this without judgment, evaluate if they are still relevant to you, and get back into it as soon as you can!
The path to success is correlated to how successful we are with our habits. On different occasions, like the beginning of the year, we get clarity on what we should do. If you take these steps, your new year’s resolutions won’t be just wishful thinking.
Stephanie Kable, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Stephanie Kable is the CEO of Live-English.net, an English online school that helps professionals worldwide feel more confident with their English as a second language. Through online one-to-one and group lessons via Zoom, the team of native-English teachers provides an efficient, convenient, and fun way to improve English speaking skills. Stephanie holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Paris-Dauphine (France) and an M.A. in Information Systems from Institut Mines-Telecom - Business School (Paris, France). Fond of languages, technology, business, and personal development, Stephanie combines all these fields of knowledge to offer unique English courses focused on each learner's needs.
