hows those resolutions going???

Are we really half way through January already?? wow! Now I will be honest I am super big on new year resolutions, I love them! I always take time at the beginning of every year to write down and reflect on how I hope the coming year will be….but to be even more honest it is usually about this time that keeping up with my new years resolutions begins its fast decline into epic failuredom. However, this year I have decided that 2012 is going to MY year! This will be the year I really stick to those resolutions and accomplish things. I am tired of reflecting back on the year and seeing that nothing I had wanted to accomplish ever became a reality.

I have come to realize that some of the reasons that my resolutions go by the wayside so quickly are that I feel overwhelmed at the amount of changes I want to happen and all the things I need to do to make them happen. I was only ever looking at the big picture and trying to change everything all at once. When I thought about my goals I would become stressed and depressed and would give up if I had failed to keep with the changes.

So, in an attempt to research goal keeping and accomplishing things I picked up the Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubins. I am not completely finished it, I keep reading parts then going back, re-reading, reflecting and making notes. It has really been a great eye opener. Gretchen really advocates taking small steps and starting with a few goals. As those changes become habits you can incorporating more of your goals into your life. She also sends the message that its ok if one day you do something that goes against your goal, just try again the next day. She really makes the point that every little step helps… for example I want to reorganize my kitchen but the thought of spending the entire day doing just that overwhelms me and stops me from doing it. Instead, just find a bit of time one day and do one cupboard, then, when you have time again, do another cupboard! I don’t need huge blocks of time to get things done… just work on things when I can! Don’t stress when something isn’t done if you were using the time you had to work on small steps of your goals its ok! Things will get done as long as you keep working away at things! Such a simple ideas!!

I have done exactly this and the happiness, success and determination I feel already has been great. So far this month I have really enjoyed working on my resolutions and really happy to say that things are getting done.. for example one of my goals was to get this blog up and going and to be a better blogger. Did I manage to get it started in the very first week? no.. Did I do my relaunch with all the glitches and changes that I want to have done done? no… before I wouldn’t have been able to sit down and do this re-launch just yet… the perfectionist that I am would have had to sit down and work away for hours in frustration trying to make all the changes I want this site to have only to come across something that got me stuck and give up… never to re-launch! But not now…I am doing it now .. so here is the re-launch! Taa Daaaa!! I am super excited about it and the step-by-step changes that you will see me making over the next few months!

How are your resolutions going?