It’s a whole new year!
It’s a whole new you…maybe?
Every year people set out to do many things around this time, and every year many of those same people are no longer doing those things within a matter of weeks…or less.
CBS News reported a survey in which “just under 1 in 10 people (8%) said their resolutions lasted a month, 21.9% reported two months, 22.2% reported three months and 13.1% said their resolutions lasted four months. Only 1% said they lasted for 11 or 12 months.” Only 1% of the people surveyed were still doing what they set out to do, just one year later!
We all know how fast time flies, so why not set ourselves up for a little more success?
You’ve heard of the SMART system by now (checking your plan to make sure it’s Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based) and each of these considerations is really helpful to making sure you’re moving towards sustainability, but, let’s also investigate why specifically when we set goals for ourselves, even when we feel motivated in the moment, do we often fall short in the long term?
Pitfall #1
Biting Off More than You Can Chew
You don’t have to do it ALL right from day one! Thinking of putting a new habit in place? Start small! What is the LEAST amount of effort you can put in consistently, and still get results?
Think in baby steps, or even less than baby steps, and just do that first step and feel proud! Odds are once you get moving, even a little, you’ll have the motivation to increase the goal as you go.
In terms of your money, let’s say you want set more aside for retirement savings. The very first miniscule step might be deciding which night you’re going to read through your company handbook of options, or which night you’re going to ask that friend you know who set up their own account for advice.
Once step one is complete, treat yourself and immediately write down what the very next step would be, and when is realistic for you to do it. Tip: Tell people what you’re doing! (More on that in the Motivation/Accountability section below!)
Pitfall #2
Undervaluing Your WHY
Focus on why you need to pursue this goal. Why is this so important to you? Identifying the WHY behind the goal is another key to building motivation. Ask yourself: what could be made possible for you if you succeed, even a little? What might happen if you don’t try?
Perhaps you identified that your goal this year is to bring in more income. It may feel really scary to ask for that raise, or increase your own rates (if you have control over that). When you solely focus on the effort it will take, or the assumption of rejection, you might find yourself shutting down entirely.
Bring yourself back to your WHY and you’ll find that you increase your courage.
Pitfall #3
Not Understanding Your Own Unique Way of Motivation
Determining if your goal will be sustainable or not, comes down to how you personally foster your own motivation to get things done.
Are you internally motivated or do you need outside accountability (this is the most common type, btw! People need people!)? Do you get the best outcomes when you question everything and do heavy research? Or, does the need to conform to other’s rules and ideas completely turn you off?
Take this quiz by “Happiness Expert” Gretchen Rubin to find out what type you are!
Once you understand what it takes to get you going, it’s that much easier to pick a path that’s right for you!
Finally, in the world of personal finance, anything we can automate is much more likely to keep going long term. Savings? Retirement Contributions? Paying a Credit Card off? Automate it all and save yourself the hassle. You’ll be surprised how quickly things manage themselves for the better, and you get to remain hands-off! Set up is usually quick; one-time and done.
Is there a money-goal in mind where automation could come into play? How good would that feel once it’s set up, and what could you do with your extra time?
Unlocking Abundance 