RESOLUTION SOLUTION

80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February ~ businessinsider.com

Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Year’s Resolutions ~ Forbes

People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't ~ statisticbrain.com

Why do people fail?
-     Will power burns out
-     Trying to change too much at once
-     The reason to change doesn't “FIRE” them up
-     No written game plan

Be part of the 8%. Here are some tips to set yourself up for success:

Keep it Simple - Pick 1-3 areas of your life to make a change in. It is like developing your mental muscle. Master a couple areas, then move on to the next.

Create a Plan and Write it Down - We are 42% more likely to reach our goals when we put pen to paper. Know what you want and “WHY” as this will give you structure and direction.

Create Habits, yes habits! - When will-power can burn out and is limited, habits will set you free to create the endurance for change,

Make a Shift from an Old Pattern – Find a new way of doing something by developing new habits around the area of life you want to change.

Here’s how to start a habit and turn it into a new way of being….

Decision: Commit 100% to the action you want to create. Decide to act in a particular way 100% of the time, with 100% commitment. If you commit 50% you only will get 50% of what you want, if that.

Vision: Visualize yourself performing the action and seeing the results you want as if it already has happened. The more you imagine yourself engaging in the new habit, the more rapidly this behavior will take hold. Now before you say this is woo woo and run away, give it a try. Athletes and sports teams use this technique all the time.

Action: Get into action, inspired action. Step into and repeat the action that will move you forward and support your new behavior. This may feel awkward at first, but as you continue to repeat this step it all will fall into place. We must crawl before we walk, and walk before run!

Repeat the above step until the new habit becomes the desired behavior.

Structure gives you freedom, so spend time to create time. Reduce the amount of time it takes to start an activity. For example, set your workout clothes near the bed so they are ready in the morning; prepare healthy snacks so they are in the refrigerator ready to go when you need them; and, put the bad, tempting snack food out of easy reach.

Few people can make big changes in every area of their life. Pick a few areas that really inspire and motivate you. Create a plan and work your plan. With these helpful tips you will make this up coming year one of your most positive transformative years ever. Most importantly, KEEP IT FUN!!

For more tips and inspiration go to dirkschultz.com
Dirk Schultz, Health/Wellness coach and Personal Trainer
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