Well, its February now... how are your resolutions working for you? I’ll bet you think we psychologists love New Year’s Resolutions. Well, I generally dislike them.
Don’t get me wrong, I love it when people take the first steps toward change! It’s an exciting time! I just want you to make goals that work for you. Unfortunately, I often hear resolutions stated in ways that make change less attainable. Vague goals ensure vague outcomes. It is like tying your shoes together at the starting line of the race! Make your goal to change a habit, and it’s like giving yourself a head start instead.
Here’s how you do it: Any new personal goal should be specific, measurable, and achievable. Instead of “I’d like to eat better this year”, be specific: “I’d like to eat more vegetables”. Make it measurable: “I’d like to eat the recommended minimum five vegetables every day”. And here’s the key part: Make it achievable by thinking of a way you could turn it into a habit. How about “I will eat a vegetable at each meal and snack.” “I will keep veggies, and no sugary snacks, at my desk.” “I will plan each morning how I will get my five veggies that day, and I will record on my desk calendar at the end of the day how close I came to my goal.” The more specific the better. Forming the new habit is key. The more you visualize yourself executing your plan, the closer you are to achieving it!
