It'll Never Work: 3 Tips to Make New Year's Resolutions Work

I'm back.

Did you miss me?

Boy, did I go into a blogging funk.  Started around the beginning of December and I could not Not NOT pull myself out.  So here I sit in my office on a Sunday night, telling myself to write for 10 minutes.  My own medicine, right?

Since it is a brand new spanking year (welcome 2016!), resolutions are everywhere.  I used to detest New Year's resolutions - they never worked for me.  Then my dear friend Jean changed my life.  You can read about that here.  Now I look forward to the goals and opportunities that a new year brings to my life.

However, if you happen to be one of those folks who think it will never work for you, I will give you three tips to get you started.  That's all.  Only three.  That way you won't feel overwhelmed and you might even give it a try.

#1 - Reflect.  Take some time to think about the good things that happened to you last year.  Try to find three - one in your professional life, one in your personal life and one in your dream life (not your night time dreams, the life you dream about, the life you wish you lived every day).  If you get going, don't stop.  Let it flow!

Here's some of my list:

Booked 2 huge upcoming contracts
Performed 4 completely solo cabarets
Got the Teen out of high school and off to college
Spent quality time with Beloved
Kept creating, especially Navigating
Acted on advice from people I respect, even if I didn't believe
Visited London (finally), Scotland and Columbia

You get the idea...

This exercise will help you start the year with a positive attitude.  You'll be amazed at the good things that happened last year.  You'll likely be more motivated to consider the good things that you might be able to make happen in the upcoming year.

#2 - One Goal.  Choose one, especially if this is feeling like an assignment.  Make it incredibly simple, but specific, like:

Take one weekly dance class for 6 weeks (this is one of my 2016 goals).
Walk for 30 minutes twice a week for 2 weeks.
Eat one less cookie every week.
Attend one audition.
Contact one possible client.

You want a goal that feels easy to accomplish, yet targets an area of your life that matters to you.  See, here's the thing - you'll accomplish that goal.  Then you'll feel successful and that's a marvelous feeling.  We want you to feel successful.  We want you to feel marvelous.  You can then say you're done or you can choose another small goal.

#3 - Find A Buddy.  One person who you can trust when you mess up.  One person who will be empathetic, but motivating.  One person who will check in with you to see how you're doing with your goal.  One person who will celebrate with you when you succeed.  This is the key to my ability to attain goals.  My friend Jean is ideal for me - she listens, she asks the right questions and she doesn't let me off the hook.  You can't use her for your buddy, but I'm happy to try to find you one.

By the way, I've noticed people posting their goals to Facebook and asking the world to hold them accountable this year.  I don't think that's going to work.  You're asking your 693 friends; who's really going to follow up on that for you?  We will all assume one of the other friends is doing it.  Instead, find one.

Interesting...I've been here for more than 10 minutes and this post is ready to go.  Amazing what happens when I just start.