Community Circle

Resolve To Stick To Your Guns

It’s 2008 and most of us put together a laundry list of resolutions for the year.  Most of us also forget about those resolutions by February 1^st.  I hesitate to even use the word resolve because it seems to lead to failure.   But I will, and ask that instead of creating the long list of promises to yourself, that in 2o08 you create four new habits in the New Year. 

I first learned this concept in one of my favorite books The Success Principles by Jack Canfield.  I absolutely love this book and consider it a must read.  Jack, I met him at my conference last year so I am going to call him by his first name, states that our habits determine the outcome in everything we do.  Successful people develop good habits and uphold them.  He says if you develop four habits a year, in 5 years you could have 20 new success habits.  Isnt that better than saying I am going to finally get organized this year. 

Im suggesting you have four resolutions so you can focus on each independently for three months at a time.  You dont forget your resolutions, but rather take the time to adjust your habits to endure. When we have so many promises its difficult to focus on whats important, but when we add one behavior at a time, we increase our likelihood of success and improve our overall lifestyle.

So here are the tools you need:

1. Identify new habits you wish to begin this year.
2. Prioritize them in conjunction with your values. 
3. Dedicate three months to each new habit. 
4. Tell yourself no exceptions if you say youre going to do something, then do it!
5. Reward yourself weekly with non-material items. 

For example, you identify you have paper clutter in your home or office.  The reason is that you dont take the time to open, read and discard your mail, so it piles up.  Schedule a time in your calendar, perhaps right before dinner or at the start of your day and stick to the schedule.  Tell yourself no exceptions.

Nearly 90% of behavior is habitual.  No one tells you to brush your teeth or get dressed in the morning.  Even if its a terrible habit youve tried to let go of for years, try again by giving yourself three dedicated months to nip it completely. 

Christa Patchen Wagner/ Savvy Solutions Organizing, INC / Professional Organizing/Coaching/Seminars

Website:  www.savvysolutionsllc.com
Email:  info@savvysolutionsllc.com