Resolve to Progress

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the author's experience with setting and achieving New Year's resolutions over the past 18 years. It covers the challenges of sticking to resolutions, the author's strategies for turning resolutions into habits, and tips for making resolutions more achievable.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The author's experience with New Year's resolutions

1. What are the key points the author makes about their experience with New Year's resolutions?

• The author has set New Year's resolutions for the past 18 years, but only about 10% of people actually stick to their resolutions
• The author has fully integrated some resolutions into their life, while letting go of others
• Resolutions that the author has kept for more than 2 years have turned into habits
• The author has posted their resolutions on Facebook since 2015 to reflect on their progress

2. What are some of the specific resolutions the author has achieved?

• No longer drinking soda (16 years)
• Flossing daily (13 years)
• Working out every night (8 years)
• Reducing sugar intake (4 years)
• Practicing intermittent fasting (3 years)
• Writing regularly (2 years)

[02] Turning resolutions into habits

1. How did the author turn working out into a habit?

• When the author's youngest child was a newborn, the child had terrible colic and would only fall asleep to the sound of the author working out on an elliptical machine
• The author made a routine of working out while the child fell asleep, which eventually turned into a habit that the author couldn't imagine missing, even when sick or returning late from events

2. What are the author's tips for turning resolutions into habits?

• Make the new habit harder to not do than to do
• Start small and build consistency, rather than setting unattainable goals
• Make a public declaration of accountability to friends
• Redefine success as making progress, not just achieving a fixed goal
• Make space in your life for the new habit by planning when and how to do it

[03] Writing as a resolution

1. How did the author turn writing into a habit?

• 5 years ago, the author decided to write more without a clear plan
• 4 years ago, the author committed to writing a little bit every day
• 3 years ago, the author set a goal of 500 words per day
• In 2020, the author completed 2 novels and half of a non-fiction book

2. What is the author's advice for making time for new habits?

• We make time for the things we care about
• Anyone can find 30 minutes somewhere by prioritizing and focusing on what you want to ingrain in your life

[04] Tips for setting and achieving resolutions

1. What are the key tips the author provides for setting and achieving resolutions?

• Pick something achievable, not unattainable
• Make a public declaration of accountability to friends
• Redefine success as making progress, not just achieving a fixed goal
• Make space in your life for the new habit by planning when and how to do it