No resolutions, only results!
- Jan 1, 2019
- 2 min read
In his TED Talk 'Keeping Your Goals To Yourself', Derek Sivers shares that"telling someone your goals makes it less likely to happen." According to Derek, psychologists have found that there is a type of social reality that occurs, the mind is trick into believing that it's already done and because of that satisfaction your less motivated to do the hard work that is necessary. New Year's resolutions are similar, the brain is in the state of completion of the task, at the beginning of the year, even though you did not attempt it yet.
For this and many other reasons, you should consider the results you would like to achieve, and set short term goals to achieve them rather than setting out long term resolutions that you are likely to to accomplish. When listing out your goals set metrics to measure your progress and quantify your successes and shortfalls. Take the time daily, weekly or monthly to celebrate those wins and acknowledge those weakness. This is provides you with time time to re-evaluate your strategy and work on those weaknesses.
Sounds like work? Well, there is always a level of effort or "work" that goes into achieving a goal and before putting pen to paper ask yourself this simple question. Is this list just so I can get that chemical rush for a short term satisfaction or am I serious about stepping up level in the new year.
I have read many times that a goal without deadlines is simply a dream. I have also read that the difference between a dream and goal is that dreams occur when one is asleep. May your goals for 2019 be realistic and achievable, may these goals be SMART goals.
S - Specific - clear, concise and unambiguous
M - Measurable -
A - Achievable
R - Relevant
T - Time bound
Personally, I have found that the best way to get the ball rolling into the habit of completely tasks and achieving results is by:
1. Writing a list the day/night before.
2. Add a few simple tasks with major tasks.
3. Complete the simple tasks firsts.
Adding simple tasks to my list helps me generate momentum. By completing these simple tasks I gain the confidence and fix my focus to attack the larger more time consuming challenges. In the same way, add simple, and quick to achieve goals to your 2019 roadmap and ensure that you understand that there will be many road blocks and bumps along the way but have the willingness to get around these roadblock and over the bumps.
I have found that roadblocks and bumps provide an excellent opportunity to re-evaluate strategy and attack a task from a different angle whist learning a new skill and more about myself. Another very important point to consider is talking about goals you don't achieve will have a long term, negative impact on your character.
Don't be a boy who cried goal!
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