A new decade is here!
And like clockwork, we lay out all of our resolutions to finally do all of the amazing things we've always been meaning to do—stop drinking, reach my goal weight, travel the world, change my career, be present.
And pretty soon, it's: new year, same. old. me.
It's not your fault. It's because resolutions don't work.
According to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year's resolutions fail by February. And that's because making resolutions is like wishing upon a star for things to change without ever making steps to do so.
Since we're all about making change transpire, we want that change to last.
So, instead of making resolutions this year, make rituals.
A ritual is something you do every day—not because you want to, not because you feel like it, not because you had extra time that day—but because it's simply what you do.
Take brushing your teeth, for example. You likely brush your teeth twice a day without much thought. Not because you want to brush your teeth or had an extra two minutes to spare that day. You likely brush your teeth out of habit. (Thanks mom and dad).
So instead of resolutions, create small rituals to build into your routine until they eventually become habit.
Step 1:
Decide who it is you want to be now (not in the future, not unrealistic future you, but right freakin now!)
Step 2:
Create a ritual to support it.
Rituals involve creative problem solving. What small change can you incorporate into your routine already?
For example, say you decided that you are now a person who meditates. Pick a time that you're most likely to achieve this (probably first thing in the morning before your day gets ahead of you). Then incorporate it into your routine.
Wake up, meditate for 10 minutes, brush your teeth. Repeat.
Because you're likely to cheat and dive deep into the pile of emails that have accumulated from the night before, try placing your phone outside of your room or away from your bed. Set a timer so you're not worried about time getting away from you. Say to yourself "I am a meditator and today I'm going to meditate."
Do not allow yourself to ask if you feel like meditating today. Do not use the timer on your phone and get swallowed by a scroll hole. Do not think. Just do. (Hey, is that your new meditation mantra?).
Do this for 21 days and voila!—you've got yourself a habit of meditating.
Whatever it is— starting a new workout, eating cleaner, drinking less — decide you are someone who now (fill-in-the-blank here). Then create rituals to achieve it.
It's much more effective than wishing on a shooting resolution.
You got this!
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