Am I Insane?

I was at the gym this morning and was greeted with a crowd of people that I never saw before.  I asked my workout partner what happened and he said "New Year's resolution people, most will be gone in a few weeks"  It started me thinking of why we just have such a hard time changing or beginning habits. 

Probably all of us have something in our lives that we want to change and the New Year seems like a great time to start new habits or changes in our lives.  In the past I have written new goals for the year.  About half way into the month I start slipping and sliding away.  Part of my problem is that my list is usually too long.  It seems that what I try to create from the goals is a perfect person.  Since that perfect person is not going to happen this year my list is very short and has only two things that I want to work on.   What is going to help me this year are those two sayings.  If I can just change a few things this year next year will be different.  I need to do them every day just one day at a time.  What things do you do to stay on target with change and habits?

RESPONSES:

I do write goals for the New Year. Before the New Year begins, I already know what I want to accomplish. Before January ends, I have the goals typed or written on a large sheet of paper. I check each goal off as I accomplish them. I truly believe in the power of words, both written and spoken! I have been successful in accomplishing my large as well as small goals with this method. I revisit my goals monthly and challenge myself to reach my best. If a goal is not accomplished in the year designated, I roll it over to the next year if it is still important to me. I think big. Write realistic goals to accomplish my dreams. Motivate my self through prayer, meditation, and visualization to obtain my goals. I share them with a few people. Big goals and dreams should only be shared with impossibility thinkers, at least in my opinion. I never look to others to qualify my goals or aspirations. It comes deep within--from the well-spring of my life. It's where I meet my God. Mary E. Howard

Thanks for this!!!  I had a quintuple-whammie this year with the New Years goals.  I had written a 5-year “time capsule” in 1998, instructing myself not to open till Dec. 31^st 2003...I was shocked and very disappointed when I opened it.  Not a good thing to do—5-year time capsules....

Happy New Year! JH

Great thoughts on working toward goals! I try to take 15 minutes at the end of the day to write in a journal, highlighting progress I've made that day toward my goal(s) or strategizing about what I could have done differently to make progress toward my goal(s). It helps to keep me focused so I don't drop it a few weeks after 1/1.

Shannon

Hi Paul I am keeping focused on my campaign and it is going ok. My goal is to be in at least the top two folks. I am doing ok and have weathered the storm. Hope to see you soon.

Rod Lindsay

Thought you'd enjoy a laugh. My real New Years resolution is to laugh
more. This is my top 10 resolutions I set this year.

Top Ten New Year Resolutions
10. To offer more of my income freely to the government
9. To feel one with State Management
8. To get at new tattoo with WIA in large letters
7. Reduce my drug and alcohol dependency
6. Seek out better psychiatric counseling
5. Meet an exotic male dancer looking for employment to spice up my
caseload
4. Increase my caseload and to try to keep busier at work
3. To have a warm and friendly feeling with each and every participant
2. Make each day feel like Saturday
And the number one resolution for WIA staff is:
1. Retire early, so my life is no longer compared to those annoying Dilbert
cartoons.   EM IA

Happy New Year Paul... from Imperial County, California - "Where the sun spends the Winter!"

With respect as to how to keep your goals on track...  with New Years goals and resolutions, I find that if you share your goals with others, and post them where you can see them, it keeps them fresh on your mind.  Sharing them makes it more difficult to go back on your word!  In addition, if you share them, friends can also help to motivate you and keep you on track... for example, on days when you just don't feel that spark of energy to get you going, an exercise partner can be there to remind you why you set those goals in the first place. 

Another consideration, when setting goals, try to be realistic.  Limit the number of goals so that you do not overwhelm yourself and set yourself up for failure.  Reasonable limits seem more obtainable.  As an example, if you have 30 pounds to lose, set your first goal at 5 or 10 pounds.  It is more easily obtainable, and once reached, can establish successes that will re-energize your will power and motivate you to keep going!

Good luck... and remember... each goal begins with that first step... so JUST DO IT!!

Best wishes for the New Year,

Becky S.

In learning how to pursue goals, the two biggest lessons life has taught me are:

1. Don't set too many goals and don't set them in such a way that they're overwhelming. By setting goals that represent small steps toward an ultimate desire, you can make sure there are opportunities for success along the way in order to keep motivated.

2. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and eventually you'll get where you're going. Set-backs used to be my downfall. But I'm learning that a timetable is only arbitrary.  It doesn’t' have to mean you've failed if you don't meet it. Just reset it and keep moving forward one step at a time. Giving up is the only failure.

Thanks, for another interesting session.  Happy New Year!

--Cindra--

Good question.  I began this year's resolution last year.  And, that is, to lose up to 20 pounds and get back to a size 8.  I was a size 14 and now down to a size 9-10.  I realize I am getting close to retirement and I want to have more energy to do the things I will now have time to do.  I intend to be very busy after I retire from the state so I need to be physically fit. I have joined a volunteer group for our Church's community service and am exercising more by walking during the day.  To stay focused on my goal, I am only windowing shopping for clothes until I reach my goal.  I am encouraging others on their goal to lose weight and have offered to walk with them which helps me, too.  Of course, prayer is always a must.  I am thankful for the ability and opportunity to lose the weight so I can be of more service to others.  

As for work, California is in quite a state with the budget crisis and I foresee even more changes in how the Employment Development Department will operate in the future.  At this time, all hiring, promotions, and attendance at conferences or training is frozen.  All travel must be approved by upper management and even the Director.  There are more program cuts to make and unfortunately that will mean that our customers will not have the same quality service as before due to lack of staff.  I believe it is important that each of us continue to provide the best service possible regardless of the fact that we need to do more with less.   AO CA 

The Enhanced Business Services team at Snohomish County WorkSource is operating under a strategic plan that coincides with the WDC fiscal year ending June 30.  Quantifiable objectives are measured and reported monthly by the team and individual account exec's.  We also have twice-weekly meetings to keep tabs on weekly business outreach activities, plans for upcoming EBS events, etc.  Thus, we can monitor our targeted goals and objectives on a regular basis and make course corrections as needed.

Candy

Always enjoy getting your weekly emails and somehow they are always perfect timing for what I need to hear.

In regards to change and habits, I agree that making too many or too drastic is impossible for me, so I’ve decided to set small, realistic goals!  I’m looking at getting healthier and thus maybe in better shape (literally)!  So, my plan is to walk every day when I’m at work for a minimum of 10 minutes, if I do more, goodie if not I’ve met my goal.  Also, to write in my journal and take my meditation class two factors which help to keep me sane during these insane times.  

Also, back to no obvious sugars (cakes, cookies, ice cream, candy etc.) in my eating, which is a good thing for me.  

Anyway, just a small jester, which I hope will go far in the overall health of myself.  

Being in the care giving type of work, it’s so easy to look at others before ourselves.

Happy New Year and keep those emails coming, your work spreads to more than just your audiences in person.

Brenda Reyes

Question: What are you doing to keep your goals on target? I have a ten year plan...that becomes a 5 year plan....that becomes a yearly plan. Therefore, I always have an active plan in effort...short-term and long. During the xmas holidays...I sit down with a next years calendar. and make an entry on Jan....apr...jul....oct...to review my yearly plan. I then adjust quarterly accordingly as my plan falls apart (;-) It works for me. Thanks again
Later  FO

I've made four New Year's resolutions this year.  I've identified three areas of needed improvement in my life that will improve my sense of well-being. Since I'm a 'visual' learner, but also a procrastinator, what is helping me is to have them written down in an obvious place that I will see everyday (like the bathroom mirror), telling my friends and family (to enlist their help, thus committing to them) and posting reminders on my Outlook Calendar.  Also, my coffee cup has "YOU CAN DO IT!" printed on it. If I should fail, I forgive myself and most importantly, recommit by getting back on track immediately and continuing on with my plans.  Oh, and the fourth one is a treat to myself, not in conflict with the first three! 

Cathy, California

Happy New Year.
What do I do to stay on target? The first thing I usually do is look at my goals for the year. I learned several years ago to set few, so I could achieve them. I tend to stay focused on my goals, my philosophy is never start something I am not going to finish. Its worked well for me over the years, so I tend to stick with it. The second thing I do is reflect, usually in then morning while having coffee, the things I hope to accomplish for the day. The key is to practice this task regularly, so as not to lose focus of your goals, pretty simple stuff. I practice this both for professional and personal goals. Denise, San Bernardino, CA.

Well as far as the goal thing goes I do two things:

1. Rejuvenate – When I am totally stressed I shut down and take time for me, which helps me accomplish my goals.  If I don’t schedule time for me I hit burnout and I am not productive.
2. I believe the first step to accomplishing goals is to identify what you want to do.  After many years of trying to figure out why I had the same particular goal from year to year I discovered if I wrote down the steps to get to the goal and I successfully completed one or some of those steps then I was successfully progressing towards that goal.  At least the steps toward the goal were being met.  So, change one small thing at a time has become my philosophy.  Deciding to change something affects everything else. 

Blessings to YOU!

Ethel

I have decided that since my 2003 resolution remained in (thought process only) and for the complete year; that I will benefit only if I actually put my thought process into gear and get moving on my treadmill.

So now you know what my 2004 resolution is J

Patti, CA

Here are a couple of  key things that aide me in maintaining resolutions.  I write a list of all of the things that I wish to change in my life (communications, work) or about me (physically, mentally or psychologically) .  Then I look at the list and determine what goal’s is/are realistic to change. From that list I decide what I REALY, REALY want to change.  I make a DECISION to change that thing or things.  I break them down into workable realistic steps/goals and proceed from there.  If I slip or don’t follow through with steps or goal for a day or week, I forgive myself, move-on and reengage in the steps to reach my goal.   Alaska

I NEVER make any New Year's resolutions, as January is a month of bad weather and lots of "inside the house" time, so it is difficult to focus on other things that help meet a goal, especially a health one.. You mention the health club, and yes, I imagine a lot of "new, and soon gone" folks do show up. Now, in the Summer, they can change that bad word called "exercise" into "walking", and in some pleasant surroundings, not a gym.

My own particular style is to contemplate change for long periods of time, and decide if I really want the change. If I get a "yes" out of myself, then I can start focusing on what needs to happen, in small bites, not a feast of immediate change. If I use positive thoughts (to gear up my subconscious for success), then things do begin to happen. Eventually, I am where I want to be. It does work ...

Well, time to fly again, this time to Pennsylvania, and I will have a Philly cheese steak sandwich...I don't have to change my weight...  Paul

Happy New Year to you, too.  Keeping goals on target--that's also a problem with me.  Am interested in learning more about photography & have realized I must give up something to spend the time with the photography.   Stage I am at now is just thinking about it.  Am very slow moving lately.

BarBara

To stay on task, I remind myself that life is not a dress rehearsal, we are not standing still, we are either getting better or getting worse.

Having the attitude that I want to be getting better, not just older, keeps me focused, content, happy and in forward moving state of mind.

Constantly learning from the past, avoiding previous mistake and being open to new and better experiences, keeps me routed in today and looking forward to tomorrow.

Have a blessed day, just for today! Ruth

FOLLOW THROUGH....BE REALISTIC THEN ...follow through...too many of us are sprinters...be a marathon runner...stay the course...make it a practice...part of your daily routine(incorporation) into your "new" lifestyle.happy new year to you..len....oh

I find there are things I "wish" I had or WISH I could do.

Now that I am retired I have time to do those things and guess what

I don't want those things as badly as I thought... If I really wanted them I would have found time for them in my regular routine.

I think many New Years resolutions are just that... wishes....    we wish we would or could exercise more.  We set the goal, follow it for abit, then fall back into our real comfort zone.

When I decided I wanted to teach the ACE classes, the first thing I did was real all the reference books.  Next I sat down and developed my discussion guides, then I practiced them.  When it finally came time to teach a class, all the prep was worth the effort.    But the real reason I did all that was because of an over riding passion I had to help the older worker.            what ever it would take to help them improve, I was willing to do.      

And so it is with most CHANGES....   If we have a real Passion for the change, we will stick it out and make the change.        but we can't just wish it... we gotta really WANT it before we will pay the price.                Gene

I intend to make realistic goals.  I will not lose 100 lbs. but maybe start with 25 lbs.  Will walk every day but not miles and settle for short walks.  I need to deal in reality and keep my goals where I know they are attainable.

Have a very Happy and healthy New Year.