New Year’s resolutions can be broken as quickly as they are made. Resolutions are weak for two reasons. First, they are often self-centered and don’t fully respect the lives of those around us. Second, they add stress to our lives. In order to start doing something, you may have to stop doing something else!
Here is a three step plan to creating meaningful New Year’s resolutions that stick.
1. Create the resolutions grid.
The grid has three columns, things that we want to: stop doing, keep doing and start doing. The grid has four rows, self, career, family and community. Filling in the grid allows us to consider our goals more completely and to think beyond ourselves. It helps us consider what changes we want to make in regards to our family and community (both local and global).
2. Fill in the resolutions grid
Fill in the grid as completely as you are able (open spaces are okay). As you fill in the grid consider actions that support your goals. For example, if your goal is get fit and your resolution is to join a gym, have you made the necessary adjustments to pay for the gym and freed up the time to exercise? Without the time and money this New Year’s resolution is doomed to fail.
3. Prioritize
Life throws us curveballs and we may not accomplish all of our goals so consider which ones are the most important and highlight them.
With your resolutions prioritized, revisit your resolutions grid monthly or quarterly. Mark time on your calendar to review and reflect on your resolutions. Make changes as you need to, but make sure you are still aligned with your long term goals.
If you follows this easy three step process, you should be on your way to meaningful New Year’s resolutions that stick.
Sadly, we received no Dots this year (my fave). Here is the ranking of our 2009 booty.
| Rank | Candy | Count |
| 1 | Hershey bars | 20 |
| 2 | Skittles | 19 |
| 3 | Starburst | 18 |
| 4 | Laffy Taffy | 18 |
| 5 | Snickers | 17 |
| 6 | Kit Kat | 13 |
| 7 | Regular lollipops (no brand) | 12 |
| 8 | Twizzlers | 12 |
| 9 | Reeses | 10 |
| 10 | Butterfingers | 10 |
A snapshot of my spam quarantine. I’m often amused by the e-mail subjects.
Videos of military conflicts!
Be proud, while naked
At least the spammers spelling is improving.
Say what you want about Microsoft, but the new Bing commercials are pretty funny…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSkaTcjDIMk]
