6 Ways to NOT Screw Up Your Resolutions

“Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” – Mark Twain

Hello Magnificent Being!

I hope you’ve been savoring the first few days of 2015!

If you make New Year’s resolutions, you might find it disheartening to hear the media’s almost gleeful reports of how most resolutions (some studies say 92%) are doomed to fail. Well, fear not! I have a ray of hope for you and your freshly minted resolutions…

A study by the University of Scranton found that people who make specific New Year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than those who don’t explicitly make resolutions. Woot, woot!

So, now that we know resolutions aren’t an exercise in futility, let’s get to the work of fortifying those suckers!

Here are 6 simple, but highly effective follow-through tricks to make your resolutions stick…

1. Make your resolutions specific and measurable. It’s all well and good to make a resolution to be a better person this year, but what are the specific, quantifiable habits you’re going to put in place to accomplish this? For example, are you going to meditate 10 minutes a day? Volunteer once a week? Stop gossiping at family functions? Your resolutions need to be easily measured as opposed to general ones you can squirm your way out of. So, don’t just say your going back to the gym, make a resolution to go to the gym 3 times a week for 45 minutes minimum.

2. Adjust your resolutions to actually be achievable – Researchers say the most common reason for participants failing with their New Year’s resolutions is setting unrealistic goals. So, if you made a resolution to lose 30 pounds in one month, back the truck UP! Setting the more doable goal of losing 2 pounds per week, for example, may be less sexy, but it will create the very important MOMENTUM to stay on-track with your weight-loss resolution. That momentum might even inspire you to naturally do more with your goals. Whereas, setting the bar too high can make you feel like a big ol’ loser by the second week in.

New year - more awesome


3. Resolution Reminders. Get this… 23% of folks fail at their New Year’s resolutions because they forget about it (oh dear). So, write your resolutions and their specific action steps down in your journal, hang up reminder signs in your environments, use one of the many goal/resolution apps out there, and put anything that needs scheduling into your day-timer… I always say: If it doesn’t make it into your calendar, it won’t make it into your life.

4.  Practice the “buddy system”.  Find a friend who is also setting goals for the New Year to be your resolution buddy. Declare your resolutions to each other and commit to doing regular check-ins (ie. daily via email, once a week over tea) at least for this first month. Having someone other than yourself to be accountable to makes your chances of success much higher, plus it gives you somebody to celebrate with…or complain to.

5. Celebrate the little victories!  You need to celebrate the journey as well as the destination to keep your momentum going. So, when you get through your first week of decreasing your negative self-talk, reward yourself with a nice bottle of cabernet. After your first day of pain and suffering at the gym, take a decadent nap. NOTE: don’t choose rewards that are counter-productive to your resolutions…. If losing weight is your resolution, double fudge cupcakes are not an appropriate reward. ; )

6. A Coach in your corner. My clients are always amazed by how coaching takes long unrealized goals and whips them into reality. Having a coach, personal trainer, or health advisor can do wonders in helping keep you focused, inspired, and accountable. If you’re interested in some help getting that body, mind, and spirit of yours into shape in 2015, take a look at my private coaching options or my group coaching options. (more below)

Now, go get ‘em, Tiger!!

P.S. If you’re REALLY serious about taking your life to the next level this year (in relationship, at work, or in body, mind, or spirit), my Life Reboot Program is one of the most powerful change agents out there (we’re talking LIFE MAKEOVER!!) The 7-week personal development intensive provides unbelievable structure and support for creating a year and life you love. My New Year Life Reboot Programs in Toronto start Jan. 21 and 22 and the early bird rate is on for only a few more days!


NEWS

PFW -Consciously Creating WebinarWEBINAR FOR POSITIVE FABULOUS WOMEN

I’m doing this fun, soulful, & no-cost 1-hour webinar with Positive Fabulous Women and you’re invited (guys…you too)! We’ll be going through a powerful and active 5-step process to very consciously kick off this next year of your life personally and professionally!

Wed., Jan. 14, 2015 – 1pm – ONLINE
REGISTER HERE

TORONTO GRAD CIRCLES

(small workshops for grads of my programs)

THEME: Igniting 2015
7-10pm
8 people maximum – $40

Tues, Jan. 13, 2015 *Bring a guest option
Wed., Jan. 14, 2015
Thurs., Jan. 15, 2015
*Bring a guest option – SOLD-OUT

* The Tuesday and Thurs. Grad Circles are open for grads to bring a guest! If you have been looking for a good way to introduce your brother/spouse/best friend/mom/etc. to my workshops, this is an ideal opportunity!

Please email me to register.

FOOD BANK DONATION = COACHING

I’m helping launch the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank which will be providing healthy, cruelty-free, eco-conscious food to those in need and there’s just 1 more week to donate to the Indiegogo campaign!  One of the campaign perks: for a $150 donation, you’ll get a 75-minute private coaching session with me (in-person or via phone/Skype).  Coaching AND philanthropy all wrapped up in one neat little package!

LIFE REBOOT PROGRAM

This inspiring, practical, and daring personal development program combines DAILY work for 7 weeks (powerful audio recordings, exercises, & online coaching to create shifts on a tangible real-life level) with intimate and exhilarating weekly workshops (8 people maximum) that will center, heal, and power up both your personal and professional life. Get ready to ignite your next MAGNIFICENT chapter!

LifeReboot

TORONTO Life Reboot Program
begins Jan. 20 – runs daily for 7 weeks
8 in-person workshops
TUESDAY Evenings

TORONTO Life Reboot Program
begins Jan. 21 – runs daily for 7 weeks
8 in-person workshops
WEDNESDAY Evenings

power tools course mockup
Want to go deeper?

Power Tools for Changemakers Course

Enroll in my FREE 5-part video course for productivity tips, potent self-insights, and innovative strategies to immediately empower you and your good work.

The Changemaker Sessions 

These free biweekly Zoom workshops are a place of deep (and fun!) interactive learning, coaching, and community that feature interactive workshops to build changemaker wellness, resilience, and effectiveness.

To Share:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Hello Compassionate Go-Getter!

Kimberly Carroll headshot

I’m Kimberly and I’m a coach for changemakers. 

I help leaders, activists, healers, and mission-driven entrepreneurs who want to make a bigger difference in the world do the transformative inner work and build the high performance habits and strategies to make them unstoppable.

I’m also a passionate world citizen & a director with Animal Justice & Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank.

Free Video Course
power tools course mockup

Get instant access to high performance strategies, centering practices, and inspiration to immediately power you up as a changemaker.

Recent Posts

Categories

5 steps to feel better and make more impact as a changemaker

sign up for free Video Course

Enter your info to get instant email access to my 5-part video training (+ bonus regular content just for my community).

By entering your information, you agree to receive information and promotions from me. You can unsubscribe at any time. We will not share or sell your personal information. Here’s our Privacy Policy.