A New Take on Resolutions

My husband and I have been talking a lot lately about new year’s resolutions. It’s always fun to dream about becoming your best self, isn’t it? So why is it so difficult to actually follow through with these plans each year? While we were discussing our goals the other day, the idea of creating habits came up. This conversation led to the idea of a new take on resolutions.

I’m not giving new information when I say it takes 28 days to form (or break) a habit. While continuing to think through the improvements I’d like to make this year, the idea of habits kept popping into my mind. Maybe the reason it’s so hard to stick with new year’s resolutions is that we’re trying to do too much too fast without a set plan. Why not instead try to create good habits throughout the year. Habits that can build on one another, so that by next January, there’s a noticeable difference in us?

These ideas are what inspired my husband and I to try something a little offbeat. We have decided to make a list of 12 things we’d like to improve upon this year. Each month of the year, we’ll focus on one checkpoint in an effort to create positive habits (and/or drop bad ones). The objective is to make these things a normal part of our lives before moving on to the next item.

For example, I’d really like to watch less television and read more. So one of my goals is to read at least 10 minutes per day. I love reading, but struggle with making time for it. If I force myself to actually sit down every day, the chances are I’ll stay there as long as I can – and by default I’ll have the TV off more.

My husband has always wanted to get in the habit of doing the dishes in the evening before bed. But he ends up in conflict about cleaning the kitchen or going to bed early. In reality it will only delay bed by a few minutes. Plus, we know how much better we feel when we wake up to a tidy counter. That’s why he’s made this one of his 12.

All of this to say that we are using 2017 to try a new take on resolutions! What are some things you’d like to improve upon? What do you think about this method to get it done?