New Years Resolutions

I don't believe in them. Resolutions are just goals without a plan. And that's why they fail.

However Barb recently told me what her's is. It's a good one. I think that often people set up unrealistic goals for themselves and fail to really consider the steps needed to reach their goal. Because of this, resolutions fail and then you feel badly about yourself. Barb's is good because it is realistic and it only requires a small life change.

Resolutions shouldn't be something that you do once a year. For a couple of reasons, first procrastinating making a change until the new year doesn't help you and might actually contribute to it failing. Second, resolutions are made to be broken- if you always make a resolution and you always fail, then what makes this year's resolution different from every other? Finally, if we only examine our lives once a year and make resolutions that are gauranteed to fail, then are we really making any progress in our lives?

So these are Hilary's 10 tips to change:
1) Don't think of it as a resolution, think of it as a goal. You will be more likely to succeed
2) Don't wait for the New Year. Don't use a date on a calendar as your motivation. The motivation should come from within you.
3) Think small. Making a goal of losing 5 pounds is a much better goal than making a goal of 100 pounds
4) Sit down and write out a plan. Writting it down will help you focus and stay on task. How are you going to do this? Is it realistic?
5) What's the time frame? You will have greater success at a 6 week goal than at a 6 month goal
6) Ask for help. If others are involved and supporting you, you will be more likely to succeed in your goal
7) Reassess your goal at least once half way through. If you see that you goal isn't attainable, then it is probably too big. Break it up into smaller parts and continue. Maybe your goal is too big and you can't even start. Instead of having a goal to go to the gym 6 days a week. Maybe your first goal needs to be really small, like setting up an appointment with a trainer.
8) Don't beat yourself up if you don't complete you goal. Even making a small change will make you feel good about yourself. Remember to think small
9) Give yourself credit for your accomplishments. Give yourself a treat.
10) Make a new small goal when you have completed your goal

So that said, my goal is to learn how to drive. Because of the graduated licencing, my goal is actually longerterm. I graduate in 5 or 6 months, I would like to be well on my way by then.
So here are my steps so far
1) find a driving school. I'm price checking right now
2) budget for how I will pay for lessons
3) study for and take the learners test
4) set up the driving school lessons, which includes making time to do it

This is as far as I am planning at the moment, already this is a big goal.