As we step into the new year, many of us find ourselves contemplating resolutions to make positive changes in our lives. But how do we ensure that these resolutions stick and lead us towards becoming the best version of ourselves? According to various scientific studies decision scientists, there are a few key factors to consider. Let’s dive into these resolutions that can help you hack your way to success.
Stop Borrowing Resolution
We are all unique individuals with different needs and circumstances. What works for one person may not work for another. Understanding this is the first step towards achieving success. Instead of copying someone else’s wellness plan, take a moment to reflect on why it might work for them. Do they have resources or support that you don’t? By recognizing the limitations of adopting someone else’s plan, you can focus on creating a personalized approach that suits your own needs.
Personalize Your Resolutions
While scientific studies can provide inspiration, it’s important to remember that they represent averages and not individual experiences. Begin with a foundation of knowledge about what works for most people, and then tailor it to fit your own circumstances. Treat yourself as a test subject and learn from your own journey towards self-improvement.
Create a Failure Action Plan
Failure is a natural part of any process, including New Year’s resolutions. It’s crucial to have a plan in place for when things don’t go as expected. Adaptability is key. By anticipating potential setbacks and designing strategies to overcome them, you can learn from your mistakes and adjust your approach accordingly.
Learn From Failed Resolutions
Every failure presents an opportunity for growth. Rather than taking failure personally or relying solely on willpower, focus on learning from your experiences. Emphasize your learning rate over your winning rate, and use each setback as a chance to design a better path towards your goals.
Prioritize Outcome Goals
When designing your plan, consider the behaviours it encourages and whether they align with your overall outcome goal. If falling short of a target triggers negative behaviours that hinder progress, it may be wise to reassess your resolution. Over-ambitious plans often backfire, so strike a balance between challenge and feasibility.
Hack Your Motivation
Understanding how to make motivation stick is essential. By delving into the psychology of motivation, you can uncover strategies to keep yourself engaged and driven. Explore questions that help you better understand yourself and find what truly motivates you.
Set Realistic Goals
Keep in mind the basic principles of setting realistic goals. The easier it is to follow your plan in terms of effort, time, and other resources, the more likely you are to stick with it. Additionally, consider the benefits that achieving your goals will bring and use them as motivation along the way.
Question the Defaults
Challenge the default assumptions that govern your life. Ask yourself why certain habits or timelines are considered standard, and explore alternative approaches that might better suit your needs. By questioning the defaults, you open yourself up to new possibilities for personal growth.
Use Nudges and Eliminate Sludges
Take advantage of choice architecture techniques from behavioural economics to make positive changes easier. Implement nudges in your environment that encourage good choices while eliminating sludges – frictions that make it harder to make those choices. Simple adjustments can have a significant impact on your overall success.
Pay the Price
Consider whether your resolution truly aligns with your priorities. Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve your desired change? Adding a new commitment without making space for it will likely lead to failure. Actively assess what you’re willing to give up in order to make room for something new.
Track Your Progress Lightly
While goal tracking can be helpful, don’t let it become burdensome. Find the right balance between monitoring your progress and avoiding excessive data entry that may lead to frustration or abandonment of your resolution. Keep it simple but effective.
Design Action Sparks
If your resolution involves new actions that aren’t yet habits, it’s important to create reminders to ensure you follow through. Design action sparks – effective and actionable reminders that prompt you at the optimal time for taking the desired action. By setting up these reminders, you increase the likelihood of success.
Learn Negotiation Tricks
Apply negotiation skills not only in dealing with others but also in bargaining with yourself. Use what you’ve learned about persuasion to align your multiple selves – the long-term you and the short-term you – towards your goals. Negotiate with yourself and find ways to align incentives or establish constraints that prevent counterproductive choices.
Let Non-Priorities Set You Free
Identify non-priorities that hinder your progress and challenge their hold on your life. If something that isn’t truly important is preventing you from pursuing your resolution, let it go. Explicitly acknowledging non-priorities makes it easier to prioritize what truly matters.
Get Your Multiple Selves in Line
Recognize that different versions of yourself may have conflicting incentives and motivations. This can hinder progress towards your long-term goals. Align these multiple selves by using pre-commitment strategies that limit the ability of short-term impulses to derail your progress.
By following these resolutions, you can embark on a journey towards self-improvement while staying true to who you are as an individual. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, so take the time to personalize your resolutions and learn from both successes and failures along the way.
Wishing you a happy new year filled with growth and positive change!
