With the start of the new year it seems that everyone is making New Year’s resolutions. While it’s extremely common to set a resolution, it’s unfortunately far less common to actually see it through. One reason is that people tend to take on too many goals at once. But how many is too many?
How Much Time Will Your Resolution Require?
Different resolutions take up different amounts of time. Some may even save you time. For example, if you resolve to limit your time on Facebook to less time than you currently spend there, you will have more time available to pursue other goals. On the other hand, if you resolve that this is the year you will finally write and publish your book, that will require that you devote some time, even if you choose to work on it just an hour or so a day.
If you have many goals that each take up just a little time, it’s okay to have more of them. Some of those resolutions may even be done simultaneously. Even then you may not want to start all of them at once. Start one at a time, make it a habit, then start the next. The real problem arises when you have more resolutions that you can fit in a day.
For example, if your resolution is to get that book written and published by working on it for one hour a day, and you also want to get in shape by spending an hour a day at the gym, you may run out of hours. If you have also resolved to learn a new language, join a book club and spend more time with your family, all while increasing your business revenues by 25%, well, good luck with that.
Be Realistic
The key to making the right type and number of New Year resolutions is to be realistic with your expectations. Only you know yourself and the amount of time you have to work on your resolutions, so take those things into consideration when you make them.
It helps to be very specific so that you know which areas you can work on together and which ones will have to wait. Instead of “work on my book,” or even “write and publish my book,” make a resolution to write 500 words every day, for your book, to add content to your blog, to guest post, to create a giveaway to build your email list or whatever, just resolve to write 500 words a day. (If that sounds like a lot, it’s not. It is only about one page.) This way, you will know how much time will be consumed in keeping to that resolution, and how much time you have for other business and personal tasks.
The point is there is no magic number; the right amount of resolutions you can make depends entirely on the type of things you’d like to achieve, how much time you need to dedicate to each one and how much time you have available. Take some time to think about and make your resolutions, and it’ll be more likely for you to stick with them. Remember, if you’re serious about meeting your New Year’s resolution, then you should be willing to put the necessary hours in to make it happen.
Many individuals have resolutions on their minds and on their lists right now… I am actually not one of them! I tend to go through resolutions all year 😉 usually the one at the top of my list is to exercise more regularly. I do not let myself ever let go of that one completely, or I’d be in real trouble! I’ll usually do well for awhile, then things get really busy… and I’ll start slacking – then I’ll step on the scales, YiKeS! Time to hit the road again! Very good points you have here. I just heard this over the radio today: If you have a list of New Year’s resolutions, pick the top 3 on your list, then pick the best ONE out of the three, and do ONLY that one!