Make 2018 Your Year to Do Big Things
Research has shown that we abandon one-third of all new year’s resolutions within the first month, and fewer than half survive to the six-month mark. Can we do better than that? Of course. Here’s how.
According to experts in psychology and productivity, there are three keys to making resolutions that stick:
- Be smarter about how you make resolutions. Choose the right goals for the right reasons.
- Implement new behaviors in ways that make it likely you’ll turn them into habits.
- Plan how you’ll find the willpower and support to stay motivated and on track.
Step 1: Get SMART
Let’s start with the resolutions themselves.
It’s not enough to have a good idea. Your idea also has to be actionable and attainable.
Sociologist Christine Whelan described a well-crafted resolution as “SMART”—it’s specific, measurable, and achievable, there’s a rewardfor sticking with it, and we can track our progress throughout the year.Just as importantly, you have to want it. As entertainer Chris Hardwick said in a recent Evernote podcast, “Emotion is what drives motivation. Until you’re emotionally motivated, you’re probably not going to commit to doing something because everything takes work.” Whether you’re trying to lose weight or write a novel, you’re more likely to stick with difficult projects when the motivation comes from within.
Step 2: Get in the habit
Another reason resolutions fall apart is that we try to take on too much at once. Going after too many difficult goals at the same time can leave you burned out. To maximize your chances of success, choose just one resolution. Start with the easiest one. You wouldn’t try to run a marathon if you’ve never run a mile, would you? The same applies to willpower and self-control.
The idea is to focus, not on the goal, but on the habits that get you there. To do big things, you have to start with tiny ones, so start small and work your way up. Productivity expert Tiago Forte suggests treating your habits like experiments, where you are in control. “Know what it is you want to change,” he says. “Choose a behavior that you think will work. You have to think of small things that make the habit you want to develop more interesting.” He suggests making small changes into a game to challenge yourself, such as seeing how many different, positive ways you can find to change the habit.
Try fitting your new habit into the daily routines you already have. Routines run on autopilot and resist big changes, but they’re easy to hack from within once you understand how they work.
Step 3: Stay motivated with Evernote
Wonder how you can to keep the cycle going? It’s pretty easy to slip into the old ways if you aren’t making sure you’re accountable to yourself. Here’s where Evernote can help. Create a Personal Development notebook in Evernote where you can keep it all together.
Here’s some of what goes in your Personal Development notebook:
- Calendars
- Checklists and reminders
- An inspiration archive
Calendar
Calendars are simple yet powerful motivational tools. When you successfully achieve your daily goal, mark your calendar. That’s it. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld famously used this method when building his career, making sure he wrote new material every day. Seeing a string of marked days on a calendar is a great way to build confidence and a sense of accomplishment. It also provides gentle pressure: you’ll go out of your way to make sure you “don’t break the chain.”
Checklists and reminders
Need a little push? Build checklists and reminders into Evernote to remind you to keep working on your new habits. Good checklists might include your gym routines, that list of how many vegetables you’re supposed to eat every day, or tracking how many words you wrote each week. Tracking your progress in Evernote not only makes you accountable to yourself, but it’s fun to be able to notice yourself as you change your habits.
Comments