Transcript
Do you want to stick with your new year's resolution this year? This time. Here's a simple strategy that I've never heard anyone else talk about, but solves one of the biggest problems with New Year's resolutions. You've probably had the experience where at some point you want to start a new healthy habit, like, I don't know, actually using that gym membership that you've been paying for for months. You commit to going every single day, even if it's just to spend five minutes on the treadmill. You start tracking it, building up a nice streak, which is great because it keeps you motivated to keep going. Even if you stay out until 3 a.m. partying, well, next morning your alarm goes off 9 a.m. to the gym because you don't want to break that streak, and it's only January 5th. You can't fail this early. But one day you mess up. Maybe it's a work call, maybe you get sick. Doesn't matter. The streak is broken. The very next morning, you're way less likely to pull yourself out of bed and go to the gym. Because maybe you'll just restart the streak tomorrow or the next day. But you do. You manage to restart it and get yourself back in year. This time. Fast forward to February 2nd, you mess up again. Probably Steve's fault. But now your motivation to restart it is even lower. And so the cycle continued. And by April, that gym membership is just another 11th. line on that credit card bill that you feel guilty about, but also feel too guilty to cancel. But what if you reframe the whole thing? Move away from the past fail mentality and shift your time horizon. Want to have a successful year? Don't commit to going to the gym every single day without fail, because we're human, and that means that we will fail. A lot. And a year is a long time. Instead, commit to three things. First, to becoming a person who goes to the gym, even when it's hard. This time next year, if someone asks you the question, bro, do you even lift? Well, you should be able to answer with a truthful yes. high-level mindset, the rest is way less work. But now it's time to get specific. So number two, you're going to start a month-based tracking system. Every night, you'll mark a check or an X based on whether or not you did your habit. At the end of each month, you're going to write down your longest streak and your total day's miss. Your goal is obviously to maximize one and minimize the other. But with a framing that understands that you won't be perfect, while still taking advantage of streak psychology, and a time horizon that cements in your mind that you are in this for the full year, no matter if you mess up a couple times. It's about minimizing those, mess ups. I'm working on creating a physical poster for myself for this strategy, as well as a notion template, so let me know if you're interested. What was your resolution this year?
Additional notes
Whats the fastest you’ve failed at a resolution? Give us the dirt! #newyearsresolution