You can resolve anew anytime of year to make the changes you seek in work, life
This article originally appeared in the April 2015 edition of INVISION.
Remember those new year’s resolutions you made a few months ago? How are you doing with them now that it’s spring?
Making a new start on something — no matter how small — is a big deal. Sometimes you need to recommit to your goals. Here are seven ways to boost your chances of success:
➤ Make sure your goals are realistic. If you plan to run a marathon tomorrow, without previous training, you will fail. Be realistic about what you can do and the timeline it will take to achieve it.
➤ Write it down. Research shows that writing down a goal is part of the mental process of committing to it. Write your goal down every day to maintain focus and remind yourself how much you want it.
➤ Break it down. Taking on too much at one time can become discouraging. You will have a greater chance of success by breaking down your large goal into small, achievable daily tasks.
➤ Have a plan for when you get off track. Thinking about actions you will take if you get off course is the best method of sticking with your plan. If you mess up, pat yourself on the back for everything you did right, then get back with the program.
➤ Recommit to your plan every day. Every morning, write your goal down once again. Visualize how you will feel when you meet it.
➤ Seek support from people who want you to succeed; ignore those who don’t. If you’re not getting support from someone when you really need it, you may need to take a break from relying on that relationship. Surround yourself with people who want to help you succeed.
➤ Don’t give up. Ending an unhealthy behavior or creating an exciting new one is all about taking responsibility for our lives. Finding the motivation isn’t necessarily easy, but it is always possible.
You are stronger than your habits. Want proof? Try this: Cross your arms. Now, uncross them and cross them the opposite way. How does it feel? Kind of weird or different? The truth is that if you crossed your arms the opposite way of how you usually cross them, in just 30 days it would not feel strange. What can you change in just 30 days if you stay on course?
REBECCA JOHNSON is a 30-year veteran in the eyecare business. She is the executive director of Business Consultative Services for GPN and owner of EyeTrain4You, an ophthalmic staff training and development company. Contact her at rebecca@eyetrain4you.com.