7 Ways to Keep Your NYR!

Happy New Year!

This is usually the post where most bloggers tell their readers about their New Year’s Resolutions (NYRs), but if I am honest, I have never made one. Sure, I have told myself many Decembers that in January—I am going to eat better. But the only thing that improved my eating from the former month to the latter, was that there were no Christmas parties in January.

I have, however, made quite a few changes to my life over the years—from changing how I eat (including giving up sugar and gluten), to exercising, to taking up more than a few hobbies, etc.—and so I know that making life altering choices is really hard. No matter what time of the year, change takes work.

So, if you have made a New Year’s Resolution this year, or you’re considering making a change in your life, I want to help. Today I want to share with you some things I have learned, to set you up for success:

Don’t Make a New Year’s Resolution:

The first mistake we usually make when forging a big change in our lives is that we mark a day on the calendar and tell ourselves that on that day we will be different. But we aren’t. Nothing has happened to us yet. We forget that change is a process, not just a decision. Also, it’s a process involving thought and planning. The problem with NYRs is that often we decide off-the-cuff in December that in January, we are going to change—and then we forget about it until today, January 2nd. We don’t think through all that it will entail. If we really want to change, we need to start with the following steps:
Set Goals:

What change do you most want for your life at this moment? If you don’t have a concrete answer, but you want to grow, it may be good to spend some time journaling, in prayer, and with some trusted mentors—it’s definitely not time to do a NYR. But if you do know the change you want, then it is time to set a few goals. Ask “what do I want this change to look like?” “Is there a timeframe I am hoping for?” “Are my goals and timeframe realistic?”
Start Planning:

After you set your goals, think about your daily life. How will this change effect your schedule? Is this a good season to start? Or will it be better next month or when the weather gets warmer? (Don’t plan too far out, you may never do it!) Set a start date, but don’t stop there. Think through what each day will look like. For example, when my husband and I did P90X3, we decided what days were work out days, what day was a rest day, and what time of day we would work out. This way, when the workouts got harder, or our schedules got busy, it was already planned and we stuck with it.
Build A Team:

It may be one or five people, but you need to figure out who will journey with you through this change. Who will ask you if you got up to write/exercise/read/etc. every morning this week? Who will ask you how you are doing with your goals? Who is on a similar journey and will walk with you? Who will motivate you? And who can you motivate? It may or may not be your usual people. Don’t expect your closest people to want to change just because you do. Seek out like-minded people to be on your team.
What Else Do You Need?

It is important to consider what materials or tools you are going to need. Just like a hiker gets the right shoes, and packs water and food, when climbing a mountain, you need to figure out your essentials. Of course this doesn’t mean get a bunch of fancy workout clothes, spend a ton of money on equipment, or load your phone up with apps that you will never use. It means, carefully consider your journey—maybe even talk to those who have gone before—and get what you absolutely need to get started. When my husband started his photography, he slowly built up his equipment. He didn’t go out and buy the most expensive camera and lens kit (he still hasn’t); he focused on building up his skills with what he has. Get the essentials, knowing you will pick up things as you go.
Start:

Set your alarm for the day and time you want to get started. When it goes off, get to work.
Keep Going:

The only difference between success and failure is to keep at it. Don’t give up when things get hard. Don’t stay in bed on mornings it feels impossible to get up—or if you do, give yourself grace but then get your butt out of bed the next day. Repeat.