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Today’s episode goes over two stellar strategies you can use to stay fully comittmed to your resolutions and goals all year long.
If you haven’t already listened to my podcast interview with Jarrod Warren, host of The Success 101 Podcast, be sure to check it out. We talk about some great reflective exercises you can do to crush your goals!
Want to know the #1 reason why resolutions fail? We are more focused on the ideal outcome of the goal, instead of the daily process of making it happen.
That’s why I’ve decided to implement the two tips listed below to prevent drifting.
These strategies will help you stay on task with goal-oriented actions every day instead of getting overwhelmed, quitting, or losing sight of the present moment.
Strategy 1: Before adding more to your plate, start by refusing or reducing your most common distractions.
Often times, when we are working towards a new goal, we think the only way to achieve it is by DOING more… exercising more to lose weight, working longer hours to increase our income, spending more time on meal prep planning to nail our nutrition.
Instead, I recommend that you review what you do on a daily basis that is causing you the most harm or delay towards your goals. Let me provide two few examples of what this might look like.
- Example 1: Let’s say you want to “improve your gut health” this year. Instead of researching the best probiotic supplement, ordering viome or ubiome, and buying gut-healthy foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, bone broth, etc.), start by eating LESS (or none) of the common foods that are promoting unhealthy gut bacteria… less sugar, less factory farmed meat (contains antibiotics, which kills off good gut bacteria), less non-organic food (contains pesticides). Taking probiotics and eating kimchi are great choices, but not if it steals your focus from reducing the foods you eat daily that are harming your gut.
- Example 2: Let’s say you want to increase your income. Before looking for an additional part-time job or asking your boss if you can increase your hours, start by asking yourself how you could spend LESS money on things you don’t need or how you could wisely invest some of the untouched money you do have (i.e. putting some of your savings money into a mutual fund).
Adding more goal-oriented actions to your to-do list before addressing your most common daily behaviors of self-sabotage is like trying to cover up the smell of rotten eggs by spraying Febreze to cover up the odor, while continuing to leave the eggs sitting out.
Just do less harm. Stop digging a deeper hole for yourself. Begin working towards your goal by simply doing less of what’s holding you back.
The best thing you can do to implement this strategy? Revist this question daily:
How can I reduce or refuse distractions today?
Once you feel like you’ve gotten on handle on this, you can then start adding new positive actions slowly.
Strategy 2: Bring your focus to what your best looks like TODAY.
Every day in 2018, I am going to write down the answer to this one question:
What will I do today to create the future I want?
I got this idea from the amazing Elizabeth Benton. Imagine what it will feel like to transform into a TODAY person and break free from the “I’ll do it tomorrow” trap.
Your answer to this question might include distractions or temptations you want to avoid, opportunities to be seized, or small wins you want to achieve.
The cool thing about using this question: It allows for goal flexibility & modifications based on the specific needs and circumstances of each unique day. Your answer will most likely change regularly, depending on your environment and schedule, but the objective is to consistently bring your attention to what you’re willing, able, & going to do today to take small steps towards your goal.
If the question above doesn’t resonate with you, feel free to personalize it or use one of these…
- What does my very best look like today?
- How can I win today?
- How can I take great care of myself today?
- What does my A-Game look like today?
- How will I become the person I want to be with my choices and actions today?
- What will I do to make myself proud today?
- How will I grow and improve today?
Bonus points if you check in with yourself at the end of the day to see how you did with execution and how you can improve tomorrow. Remember, slow and steady small wins add up!
Thank you for reading! Don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list below and get a free access to my Success to Significance Worksheets.
