Let me start off by saying that most of the time, I think New Year’s Resolutions are silly. It seems like for most people it’s a way of setting lofty goals that give us false hope on January 1st that usually lasts until about February 1st (if that long). I think often times what happens is we get overconfident in ourselves and set high expectations for the year that just set us up for disappointment when we’ve lost sight of the goals a month down the road.
With all that in mind, I’ve been tossing some ideas for improving the whole New Year’s Resolution thing. How can I make “resolutions” for this year without positioning myself for failure? Here’s what I’ve come up with (with a little inspiration from Sarah and Stefanie): 101 things in 1001 days.
Here’s how it works:
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.Some common goal setting tips:
- Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
- Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
- Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
- Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
- Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.
So, I’m going to start working on my list and this journey will begin today. You can follow my journey in the 101 Things tab at the top of the page.
