Making A Workable New Year Resolution

There are barely 21 days to the end of the year and the beginning of New Year resolutions. Research has shown that more than 80% of New Year resolutions are never realized because the collective enthusiasm that grips people at the start of a year very quickly but surely fades away with time.

There are seven secrets to making a successful resolution.
Make a resolution with or without the New Year
No day is superior to another when it comes to making resolutions. New Year, Christmas, a birthday or just a random Wednesday is the best time to make a resolution. Don’t overestimate what you can achieve in the New Year and underestimate what you can at a neutral time.

Write & define it
There is usually more than one resolution to make. Some resolutions are more important than others. It is therefore wise to write them down and define them. ‘Be a kinder person’ is not definitive enough, outline measures to be taken e.g. – visit prisons and orphanages every month.

Establish it within your control
Nothing is absolutely guaranteed, not even a successful trip to the office because life is a risk but goals must be set on factors within our reasonable control so you don’t get disappointed and depressed. Losing 8kg is a good one, making more money is another good one as long as you are prepared for the challenge, but if your goal is to get married in four months, good luck on that one!
Make the resolution few and realistic
I hope you don’t plan to win a Nobel peace prize at one attempt because getting shot in the head is not a walk in the park, ask Malala! If you chase too many things at once, you’re bound to catch none. Make it pragmatic and succinct.

Edit it if you have to
If you hope to work out daily and the doctor advises against the frequency due to health matters, you may adjust your schedule. A New Year resolution need not be too rigid.
Be determined
If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. You have to realize that change, which is required in any worthwhile decision, is uncomfortable and inevitable.

Pray
Some people work ten times as hard as their colleagues to be recognized, others rarely complete a task before they are promoted. Some call this luck, I call it divine favour.