Let me guess... you are going to lose 20 lbs? No wait...you are going to quit smoking? Or maybe you are really going to finally get organized?
Don't get me wrong. It's good to have goals. We need goals to help guide us in some direction. But it is not a big surprise when most of us fall back on our old habits and patterns. The reason this happens is because our brains normalize what we continuing to experience. So, although the idea of getting organized is great, if you have years of disorganization under your belt, you stating "Things will be different this year" is not going to undo your neurobiology.
So what? We just don't try? We just don't bother becoming better? OF COURSE NOT! I just encourage you to take a different approach. For example- if you are interested in losing weight, instead of setting a weight loss goal, set daily ATTAINABLE health goals. Today, you might resolve to drink at least eight glasses of water. Tomorrow, you might resolve to eat 6-8 servings of fruits and vegetables. And the day after that, you might resolve to walk a total of 10,000 steps in one day.
As you continue to follow-through with your small goals, your brain will start normalizing these healthy behaviors. Once that happens, you can continue to work toward your "big picture goal". In addition, since your daily goals and attainable, you feel good about accomplishing something each day, as opposed to getting down on yourself for not losing weight...or worse yet, just giving up.
You got this. You can totally do this. Just think smaller. Remember, bigger is not always better.
Happy New Year.
