5 No-fail Ways To Make Big Changes This New Year
It's the new year, and most of us are ready to make some big changes in our lives. Whether we want to change our diet, increase our workouts, or quit smoking, we all look for new ways to reach our goals. But the truth is, for many of us changing habits and making goals is easier said than done. Here are five no-fail ways that have been proven time and time again by both experts and regular people everywhere.
If you're going to change your life, time is of the essence. Research shows that the most successful people are those who get started immediately. So don't wait to start your new plan – the sooner you get started with whatever goal you have, the sooner you'll see results!
When you make a goal or change, pick something specific and measurable so that you know when you've reached it. For example, if your goal is to lose weight or gain muscle, don't just say "I'm going to lose 20 pounds." Instead set a date for when you want to achieve that goal. Then have a specific reason for when you want to reach that goal, like "I'm going to lose weight by July 1st." By setting specific goals, and by making them a part of your daily routine, you'll be more likely to achieve them.
Just like picking a date to reach your goal, be sure you pick an action plan that's easy and doesn't require too much time or effort. Research shows that taking big leaps becomes easier and easier if you take small steps each day. So set up your action plan as easy as possible: write it down, tell yourself when and where to do it, keep a calendar strictly for the action plan itself – no other events or reminders allowed. You'll have more success and less stress if it's structured that way.
Protestants believe in confession. Catholics believe in confession, or rather, penance. I prefer penance, so I'm going to confess anyway: I'm a smoker. Not just any smoker, but a pack-a-day smoker for over 30 years! The truth is that I haven't smoked for about 11 years now – before that I drank probably in excess of 40/week. So get this: smoke... and drink... both of those addictions were caused by me trying to find something to replace the void my parents left me when they died when I was 14 (and well into adulthood). So when I lost my parents, my life became a void. My brain - and my habits – tried to fill that void, but they wouldn't. So I started smoking; eventually, as I continued down this path of cigarettes, I started drinking more and more (my life was gone - drinking never did much for me). Eventually, the drink and cigarettes became the primary things in my life. Both would numb the pain of my emptiness. But the truth is that both are dangerous. And both eventually took away from things that really matter: being with loved ones and working on myself... until one day I woke up to them killing me - one at a time. I knew I had to quit. But you know what? I didn't want to! I was stronger than both of them, and they were a part of me. It took me eight years off and on to fully quit the drink - so far, it's been officially seven years since I've smoked (I started smoking again in October 2016 after my back surgery). So what changed? The way that I approached both of those things: with a plan. If you want to quit drinking or smoking, stop right now, read this article about what it took for me to quit for good , look at the fourth bullet point (#4) and wait (but not too long) before reading the rest of this piece. But don't wait too long to start your plan - it's never too late to quit. But it's not going to happen by itself. Here are my five no-fail ways to get started:
1) Decide how badly you want it
This is the most important step... and the hardest step. It all starts with a decision. Yes, you saw that in bullet point #2, but I can't emphasize how much of a difference that makes. I was able to quit the drink. But I believe that, had I not made the decision, I would still be drinking today. The truth is that you already have everything you need to make a decision. You have the ability in your mind to decide if you're going to quit! So if you're just playing around with the idea, stop it now . Decide if you're serious about quitting - or if you just want some sympathy from other people who are reading this article. If you're serious about quitting, continue reading.
2) Decide when you're going to quit
The best time to quit is as soon as possible. There's no perfect time - and yes, there's a chance you'll start again (I did). But if you have a specific date that you plan on quitting, it will make it easier for you to walk away from drinking or smoking. No one else can quit for you - but the sooner you can stop the habit the better off your health will be in the long run.
3) Decide how much money or time it'll take to get started
This step can be very easy; I was able to quit both my addictions with very little of either one. I knew I had to make the decision - I wasn't going to drink and smoke anymore. So I closed my bar and put the money in my bank account. I knew that quitting, if it was going to happen, would be completely driven by me. No one else was going to do it for me - but that was a luxury I could afford, so that's how it worked out.
4) Tell everyone you can
I didn't tell anyone how bad I felt about drinking and smoking; the more people around you who will support your decision, the easier it is to quit. If someone has quit smoking or drinking before, talk to them about their experience...