Why Resolutions Are A Bad Idea
January 6th, 2010
Nichepert’s Note - Rethinking Resolutions Why New Year’s Resolutions Are a Bad Idea Inspirational Quotes A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT Has the new year started off well for you? Was it easy or difficult - or somewhere in between - to get back into the swing of things? It was harder for me this year as my mind and body really needed to slow down and take a real rest. I knew that losing my momentum would mean I’d have to push myself a little harder to get back up to speed. The sweet rest, relaxation, even taking time away from email and housekeeping, felt so good that I wanted it to continue for a while longer! The year started without resolutions - “What!?” you say? “The procrastivity expert doesn’t have any New Year’s Resolutions?” Nope! Read why below, in this month’s tip. On a professional note, I was asked (and elected) to become part of the Board of Governors of the International Association of Coaching. I’ve been credentialed by them for a number of years, and it’s now my pleasure to give back to the coaching community with this three year commitment. If you’re following my doctoral study progress, I’ve passed my comprehensives, have submitted the 3rd revision on my concept paper, and have my first dissertation committee meeting in a week. I’d set a huge goal for last year’s end, a higher bar than I knew was likely (having a rough draft of my dissertation proposal) and I’m not far away from it. While I didn’t reach that goal (I didn’t really expect to) by setting that bar high I’m considerably farther along in the program than if I’d had a smaller goal. If procrastination still dogs you, consider the Procrastination Solutions Kitand my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, you’re just a few clicks away from rethinking your approach to better circumstances and more satisfaction. Remember, discipline and will-power only take you so far - you’ve got to have a lot more arrows in your quiver than just them. Wishing you a delightful start to the year and, as always, optimal procrastivity, Kerul Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com Why New Year’s Resolutions Are A Bad Idea Did you make resolutions, or did you throw up your hands in frustration (or barely give it a thought), knowing that you’re unlikely to make those resolutions stick? For most people, resolutions are something that goes in one year and out the other. Because they’re so fraught with a history of failure, maybe it’s time to nix resolutions entirely, or at least temporarily (like Strategy #2 from my book Stop Procrastinating Now), for this year. But that doesn’t mean we should give up on making improvements to our habits and circumstances. Instead of making resolutions, make PLANS. Plans are better than resolutions because usually they’re more practical, specific, scheduled, and broken down into manageable slivers. You can also adjust them as you go, week by week, because life will inevitably intrude and mess them up (yes, you know it will, so plan for it!). They shouldn’t be big, daunting plans, just something to either get a little you more of what you do want (more productive, effective, more fit, more savings, better relationships) and/or less of what you don’t (less wasted time, less debt, less weight, less smoking). Even 10%, 15%, or 20% of an improvement is a help, particularly when the alternative is giving up on a resolution entirely. Want help in incorporating plans into your professional or personal life? I have room for 3 new clients in January. Email or call if you’re interested. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES “Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.” ~ Oscar Wilde “New Year’s Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” ~ Mark Twain “May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions!” ~ Joey Adams


