New Year Resolutions - What Are Yours, And Why?

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of resolutions...for a new year or for any other time of the year. Why? Because I prefer to just get done, each day, what I need to get done, or accomplished. Also, being a Las Vegas massage therapist, we get tons of coverage on the news for New Years parties and such.

Sure, I'm a big fan of setting goals, having a business plan, creating/thinking forward all that needs to be done in the 'future.' Yet, here is what I see most often with New Year Resolutions...

First, resolutions are usually very large, all encompasing ideas or concepts.

Second, there seldom seems to be any plan of action laid out or broken down, or organized into smaller tasks so that the resolutions CAN actually BE accomplished.

Here's just a quick list of some of the New Year Resolutions I see:

• Quit smoking.
• Eat healthier or go on a diet.
• Limit drinking or quit drinking altogether.
• Become more productive; at work home, etc., etc.
• Find a new job.
• Attract more Las Vegas massage clients, increase rates, etc., etc.
• Work less, play more, enjoy life.

The list goes on and on. As I proof-read the above, a thought comes to mind...perhaps it's not the resolutions that stick in my craw as much as the lack of planning needed to accomplish any resolutions or anything else!

Take a look at the list of New Year Resolutions mentioned above. Can you find one item that would be easy to accomplish without a well constructed plan of action? I can't.

Look at your own resolutions if you have them. I'm sure all of them are very important to you, or they wouldn't be a resolution, right? Here's the point I'm getting at...

Whatever resolutions you may have, perhaps limit them in number, then spend the majority of time creating an action plan to accomplish them. Get organized!

I don't know when most people begin to think about resolutions, but my guess would probably be around the holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Regardless the time of year the resolution comes about, here is what I highly recommend you do if you wish to see them through successfully:

• Write each resolution down!
• Break each resolution down into managable tasks. Every step that need be done to achieve the larger resolution.
• Create a time-frame of how long each smaller task will take to accomplish.
• Now create a time-line for when all the smaller tasks will be accomplished, thus achieving your true goal.
• Focus on each task, not so much the larger New Year Resolution, and get to work on it.
• Work on each smaller task every day.
• If you miss a day, don't fret. Be unconcerned and pick up where you left off the previous day.
• Keep going and don't quit!
• If your resolution is a tough one, find a teacher or mentor to assist you with it.

I realize this is very basic and I'm certainly not a self-help expert ;) Yet, the steps above have worked for me. The key to completing successfully any New Year Resolution is in the steps or the action plan. Breaking it down into managable tasks and then completing them, one by one.

If you wanted to quit smoking and it took you from January to March to do it, that's Ok. At least you succeeded. How do most formal stop-smoking campaigns work? Step-by-Step. One step at a time.

It's the same with attracting new clients. If you want to attract new Las Vegas massage clients, it's step-by-step.

Give it a try and see if it works for you!

Please share your resolutions for the next year with us below!