If you’re wanting to set yourself a resolution for 2021, a good place to start is to reflect on the year gone by. Which was marked by lockdowns, isolation, loss of jobs and shifts in opportunity. Struggles and failures are an integral part of your success journey and this strength mostly stem from such experiences. Living though difficult and stressful times can make way for a greater appreciation for life, self-understanding, and increased personal resilience (bouncing back then becomes quicker). When setting resolutions, it’s important they’re linked to meaningful goals and values that can sustain motivation.

9 Tips to Setting 2021 Resolutions

1) Match your goals to your deeper values

Who you are and more importantly, who you would become on the journey to get to your goal is important. The wider the gap between who you really are and what you represent to the world should be minimised here ( this is called the “integrity gap) . Your beliefs and hopes have a key role in sustaining your motivational impetus and keeping you focused. This form of motivation is associated with increased personal well-being. Discover what your true values are before you go to the next point.

2) Set “new” resolutions

We can recycle old ones here.  If you still want to pursue a resolution from last year, try to be more specific in your approach, which means it should be clearly defined and identified. A vague statement like I should walk everyday as against I should walk 20 minutes every day is specific, realistic and doable.

3) Have a framework, a plan which is well defined 

Most often the cause of a failed new year resolution or any plan for that matter is a vague or generic plan which most often requires further thinking and planning.

The framework you choose should account for factors such as time, place and people. Specific plans provide the mental cues needed to stick to our goals.

A framework that provides plenty of mental cues and strategies on which to follow up. Also, including another person in the plan also sets a greater sense of responsibility, accountability and social enjoyment — compared with a more vague resolution such as: I will eat less year.

4) Imagine your desired positive outcome as vividly as possible

Plan your goal in your mind and then see things you would be doing when you reach your goal. According to research using brain imagery, visualization works because neurons in our brains, those electrically excitable cells that transmit information, interpret imagery as equivalent to a real-life action. When we visualize an act, the brain generates an impulse that tells our neurons to “perform” the movement. This is visualising your goals, which will help you stay focused on identifying the specific resources your resolution requires. More importantly,  It will also help mobilise a sustained pursuit of the goal. This works like magic if done well.

5) Enjoy small gains

Enjoying small progress, gains is not only pleasurable, it will also help to motivate you. Sometimes it becomes daunting to start something big, in such scenarios believe and execute what is called as “power of small start”. Don’t do everything in such situations, but do something about that everything. This will help you find a perfect balance between feeling guilty and bring in a sense of satisfaction at the same time, paving the way to move forward.

6) Set goals you want to pursue

Research consistently shows pursuing freely chosen goals, which stems from self-awareness and are internally motivated enhances well-being. Meanwhile, goals that are externally motivated, pressed upon you are associated with psychological distress and are less likely to be achieved. Examples of external motivation include doing something because the situation demands it, because it might please someone else, or to avoid shame or guilt that may arise if it isn’t done.

7) Stay flexible

If your resolution isn’t working for you, reset it or adjust it to make it more meaningful and/or achievable. It is important to become aware of what is working and what is not working as you march towards your goal. And, continue to change the approach until you get what you want.

8) Be realistic

What is realistic for you and your circumstances. The more realistic your resolution is, the more achievable it will be and the less likely you are to set yourself up for failure. Knowing you can attain your goal helps keep up your motivation and lets you off the clutches of the deadly “procrastination” .

9) Past actions are only your ancestors, learn from them

Instead of engaging in self-criticism and negative self-evaluation, a positive attitude towards failed resolutions can help you do better next time.

Hope this article will help you build not only your new year resolution, but also other plans which you have been wanting to execute.

Go be Great !!