Jack
Well, it's very nearly January. Named after the Roman god, Janus - Divine patron of running out of cash and rubbish weather. Just kidding, apparently he was the god of new beginnings and doorways.
But either way - it's a new year whether we want it or not.
In a society obsessed with self-improvement, we can expect to be bombarded with adverts for weight loss, gym membership, and fancy foreign holidays before the echos of "Auld Lang Syne" have died away. But as frustrating as it is, there is nothing wrong with a little self-improvement. Just make sure that it doesn't give way to self-loathing.
And make sure your New Year Resolutions are SMART. For those who didn't take GCSE Business studies, I'll explain below. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Based.
Specific- "Get fit" is the worst resolution you can possibly make. What does "fit" even mean? Make sure you set yourself a goal that you can actually pin-point when it has been achieved. You can point at it and say "Yep, done that!". For example, instead of "get fit", having "Run a half-marathon" means the second you cross the finish line, you've achieved a goal.
Measurable- As anyone who has sat through a targets meeting at work will appreciate, metrics are key. "Be a better golfer" is specific, but it's not measurable. "Shave 2 points off my handicap" is both. Try to set yourself milestones, especially if you're giving yourself a very big goal to work towards. These will feel like a mini-goal, and spur you on to keep at it.
Achievable goals are ones that can actually be, well, achieved. It might be great to have as your ambition "knock out Tyson Fury within five rounds", but if you're an asthmatic middle-manager with a pot belly whose never boxed before, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. You know your own strengths and weaknesses. Make sure you pick things you can actually do. And if they look challenging, make a plan (even if it's on the back of a Christmas card envelope) about how you're going to get there.
Realistic is similar to Achievable. But the subtle difference here is, you need to consider the resources at your disposal. And the two biggest are time and money. If you have two young kids, are you going to have time to compete in a White Collar Boxing exhibition, AND learn how to sail? Consider your commitments (family, job, existing hobbies, you know- the normal stuff) before adding more to your plate. Spreading yourself too thin will lead to burn out, and the justifiable resentment of your spouse and/or line manager.
Time-Based is the final, and most important thing. Give yourself a deadline. Then stick with it!
"Learn how to swim in time for the family holiday in June" gives you that firm shove in the direction of the pool rather an open-ended "learn how to swim" that can be put off for months and months until you realise in December 2025 that you haven't actually put your trunks on yet.
As well as being SMART, keep yourself accountable. It's up to you how many people you tell about your New Years Resolutions. The two limiting factors being your own sense of modesty, and how much your friends, family, an co-workers will tolerate your smugness. But the best person to keep your on the straight and narrow, is yourself. The best advice I can give is this- write them down, by hand. A Facebook status update is all well and good, but it's lost the moment after you post the damn thing. Write it out by hand, and stick it somewhere visible- like next to your desk, or on the fridge. Having something physical where you can cross off achieved goals will help you. Move it around the house as well, so that it doesn't just become part of the furniture- literally and metaphorically.
Be kind to yourself. New Years Resolutions should NOT be an exercise in self-flagellation. There are enough people in the world who will try to put you down or discourage you without you joining them. That's easier said that done though. If you're the type to set yourself goals, then you're probably the type to be hard on yourself as well.
Praise yourself when you do something to help you get there. Just been for a run? Congratulate yourself! Practice talking to yourself in your head in a "nice" voice. You don't have to bark at yourself like a sergeant major to get things done.
Finally, you may fail. That's a risk you take. But consider this- has ANY government, in the history of the world done everything it promised in it's manifesto? No, of course not! Don't hold yourself to an impossible standard. Do your best, that's all anyone can ever ask of you.
Oh, and Happy New Year!
