To Resolve or Not to Resolve...

That is the biggest question going around right now. Do I make a New Year's Resolution or not? There has been a good bit of criticism on making resolutions, saying that many people fail by the next week. Others say that resolutions are not the changes that we actually need to make--meaning they are only temporary and not permanent changes.

So I was trying to decide if I wanted to make one, and I decided that I do. To me, making a resolution for this year is a step in the direction to making a lifestyle change. Basically, I'm resolving to follow my resolutions, taking it a step at a time, toward a large lifestyle goal in the end. For me, it is much, much bigger than a simple New Year's Resolution. I plan to have a large goal, with smaller resolutions throughout the year, in order to obtain that big one.

I looked up ways to stick to your resolution, and I decided to follow one of Forbes' models.

Pick one goal (though it can be multi-faceted). 

My ultimate, lifestyle goal: to become a happier, healthier, more fit person (broad goal, right?).

Put your goal in writing.

I'm doing that here!

Set Action Commitments.

Basically, these are short-term commitments to your larger goal. (Mine will be re-evaluated as I go. In the following list are things I would like to implement one at a time. When I am comfortable, I'll add another. Don't worry--you'll be updated.)

Goal Setting Partnership

This is basically making me write down if I achieved my goal or not and having someone there to see it. I'll be doing weekly check-ins with you and my sister right here!

REWARD!

This is TBD, but it will be something for myself like a pair of shoes, maybe a pedicure, or something along those lines.

So, I have started with Mini-Goals 1 & 2. I'll check in with y'all a week from now to see how it is going. When I'm ready, I'm going to pick up another goal. Most likely, I'll pick up 3 pretty quickly, so I don't pass out doing MG 2. 

Now, I'm sure some of you are saying "What? Four times a week--that's nothing!" And some of you are saying "Four times--that's more than I can do." I decided on four times a week because it is a pretty hearty goal for my current lifestyle and schedule. With classes, working, and co-curriculars, four times a week is really pushing it. But I knew that in order to make an actual change, I can't just do something easy. It must be challenging.

This is where E and I will vary a lot. Our lifestyles are different, so our goal/resolutions won't be the same--if she even chooses to resolve in the first place. Just know: do what fits you, your lifestyle, your goals and desires. Do what you do. 

--A