It’s time to make New Year’s Resolutions!
Because that’s what people do, right? It’s January - Make resolutions.
Come February – those resolutions are generally ruined.
What if you did something different this year?
Make routines, not resolutions.
Here’s what that might look like:
Resolution: I’m going to lose 20#
Routine: Daily walking for 20-30 minutes
Resolution: I’m going to regularly do devotions
Routine: Read the Bible while I’m flossing my teeth
Resolution: Stop watching/listening to the news
Routine: TV only turned on once a day to something positive/enjoyable
Resolution: I’m taking better care of my mental health
Routine: Meet with a therapist every week
Resolution: I’m going to have a better relationship with my spouse/friend/child
Routine: Meet for coffee or lunch every Saturday
What happens? Those routines become tiny changes which bring about remarkable results.
James Clear, in his book “Atomic Habits” addresses this as well:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” – In other words, your routines are your systems. When you have a regular routine, you’ve started establishing a system.
“Every ACTION you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” The thought, the resolution, the intention is not enough. You must take action – start with a routine.
Here’s some tips:
1. Take small steps – The death of resolutions or any new routine is to
make it too general and too BIG!!
2. Tie your routine to something you already do; what James Clear calls “stacking habits.”
3. Know what works for you. As most of you know, when I decided to do regular stretching so I could walk without a limp, I tied that to an existing routine. I already got up, made coffee, read the paper, then went about my day. (See tip #2)
My new routine came with retraining my brain with a “reward”– “Barbra, you can read the paper and have a cup of coffee after you’ve stretched your leg.” I started with a few minutes (see tip #1)
Before long, it felt so good, I added more time and pretty soon, it’s a routine-- that became a system-- that became a part of my life.
What are your desires for this new year? The most common resolutions across the US revolve around a healthier body, a healthier mind and healthier finances.
What if……. You turned those resolutions into routines?
Happy New Year”s Routines 2022 from Barbra