DECEMBER 13, 2023
Why you'll achieve your resolutions when others don't
You know the drill…
On January 1st, you'll make a drastic change.
2024 will finally be your year.
The year you are consistent and motivated, skyrocket your business, get a six-pack, save money AND become a better person all at once.
Right?
Look, 2024 can absolutely be your year – in fact, I'm here to help you with just that.
But here's the thing:
Nothing magically changes on January 1st.
❌ Your willpower doesn't magically change.
❌ Your habits don't magically change.
❌ Your obstacles don't magically change.
❌ The 𝘨𝘢𝘱 between your intention and your behavior doesn't magically change.
The thing with New Year's resolutions is that we’re often more committed to the idea of our goals than the work they require of us.
We romanticize the big changes in our heads, and then abandon them at the first sign of struggle.
And then we feel disappointed, generalize our setbacks, and give up on our dreams all before the new year is one month old. 😢
Let’s make 2024 different, shall we? Here's how👇
Set Authentic Goals
Base your goals on what you truly want, not on what you think you should want or what others expect of you.
Reflect deeply on your personal values, dreams, and desires.
Ask yourself why a specific goal is meaningful to you. This alignment creates intrinsic motivation which is far more sustainable than external motivations.
Do you really want to become a gym-rat and have a six-pack? Why? What makes that important to you?
Don’t just visualize, contrast
I’m a big fan of clarifying your vision, but a vision is nothing without a reality check.
You want to 1) imagine achieving your goal and 2) honestly reflect on the current reality that's preventing you from achieving it.
This process is called 'Mental Contrasting' and it helps you identify the necessary steps and develop a plan that takes into account your life (because remember you won’t magically be a different person on Jan 1st).
Prioritize
Spreading yourself too thin leads to diluted efforts and diminished results.
In the new year, your time and resources will still be limited. You won’t turn into a superhuman who can do 100x as much in the same 24 hours. You just won’t.
Limit your focus to a maximum of three key goals. Choose those that will have the biggest positive impact on your life and are most authentic (see point 1).
(If your ambition is screaming "But I want them all" – I hear you. No one is saying you can't set new goals after you achieve those three.)
Start Small & Build Gradually
Instead of overhauling your entire life overnight, begin with small, manageable changes.
Consistent small actions lead to significant long-term results. For example, instead of aiming for an hour of daily exercise right away, start with 10 minutes and gradually increase.
The biggest killer of resolutions (and goals) is all-or-nothing thinking.
Stay flexible
This is the bigger sister of starting small, because all-or-nothing can hit you any time.
Progress is not linear, and it’s okay if your actions look different every day. In fact, assume they will.
I like to define a big, medium, small version for almost any new habit I implement.
For example, if you want to read regularly, big might be 1 hour, medium might be 20 min, and small might be 1 page. Allow any of those options to be a good option. No matter the 'size', you’re still making progress towards your goal.
Be open to adjusting your strategies, learning from setbacks, and not succumbing to unattainable perfection.
Accountability
Some people say that sharing your goals is counterproductive because it makes you feel as though you have already achieved them. They say to pursue your goals 'in silence'.
I disagree.
Sure, if you just declare your goals and stop there, that won't help you.
But enlisting someone/something for accountability is entirely different. Share your goals with a friend and ask them to check in on you, join a support group, or work with a coach.
Having someone to share your journey with greatly increases your chances of success.
State how you will start your journey, rather than just how you will end it.
Plan for obstacles rather than fantasizing about a world where they don’t exist.
Making changes to your life requires direction and intentional, consistent action.
It will require effort, and that won't become any less true in the new year.
But being ready for that effort is a choice.
Make 2024 the year you choose to be ready.
Rooting for you,
Charlotte
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Hi, I'm Charlotte. I help ambitious women start and grow online businesses that aren't just successful, but also provide joy and freedom.
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