No More Failed Resolutions

(The following is an abridgement of the January article I wrote for Connections for Women.)

It’s another new year and most of us are reflecting upon the changes we would like to make in our lives. New Year’s Resolutions are classically full of hope and ambition and quickly fizzle out… but why? How do you make resolutions that stick?

We believe that it takes three elements to successfully make personal change:  Education, Motivation, and Support. Let’s explore this journey of change as if it were a real journey you would take in your car.

Education is the “how.” If you were going on a car trip, you’d want to know how to get there. You’d educate yourself on the directions by looking at a map and studying your route. And of course you would have to know how to drive the car you are using. You’d learn how to use the radio, and you’d learn about the climate and the needs you’d have along the way so you could pack appropriately. If you’re on a journey toward organization, you would learn some basic organizing concepts and tips on how to approach your projects.

Motivation is the “why.” It’s like the fuel for the car. It’s the set of reasons that cause you to want to make this change and give you the energy to push through difficulties so that you can achieve it. Maybe you want to get organized so you can have more time to spend with your family, or maybe you’re really tired of feeling stressed. Motivation propels you forward and keeps you going, at least for a little while until your tank runs out! That’s when you need Support.

Support is the “keep on going!” It’s the gas station to provide more fuel when you run out, the mechanic who helps when you break down, and the friend keeping you company in the passenger seat. Support is just as necessary as the Education and Motivation, but it’s the element that is typically forgotten or ignored. Failure most often occurs because of the lack of support. You are figuratively stranded by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, and you give up.

If you are trying to make important changes for yourself this year, make sure you don’t start your journey without making Support part of your plan. Here are five ways, both big and small, to find support to get organized:

• Kick-Start: My new book talks about the importance of support and walks you through getting your own Motivation Partner with simple exercises at the end of each chapter. It’s called The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life, available exclusively on the Amazon Kindle e-book device until mid-January, when printed copies will go on sale. Preorders at clutterdiet.com all receive autographed copies! Read a sample chapter here: www.clutterdiet.com/samplechapter 
• Weekly: Sign up for our free Thursday e-mail newsletter and get our bonus 12-page report, “30 Ways to Find Time to Get Organized.” You also get our Clutter Prevention Wallet Reminder Sleeves, which help you keep clutter from coming in the door!
• Semi-Weekly: You're already here reading this blog somehow-- if you don't subscribe, you could! You can get our blog articles automatically by e-mail by filling in your address in the left column of the blog page under my photo (articles arrive one day after publication). You can also read our articles in any RSS reader through Feedburner syndication. And if you're an Amazon Kindle owner you can subscribe to get our blog articles here.
• Daily: Get my daily “ClutterTweetTip” on Twitter at www.twitter.com/clutterdiet. You can also use Twitter for a realtime support system of your own network of friends.
• Unlimited: Our Clutter Diet® online coaching program provides support from a team of organizing experts. We answer every question from our members in our message boards, and there you can also find your own personal Motivation Partner online.  

Happy New Year! May your resolutions all be clear, realistic, do-able, and supported by your friends and family. I spent my New Year's Eve at First Night Austin, where I saw an amazingly ornate wooden clock that was custom built for our city's celebration and then intentionally burned down (link here is a slideshow of lots of photos). How did you celebrate? What are your resolutions? Share in the comments.

Comments

[Anne Hyde]

Hi Lori,
Great advice to help make New Year's Resolutions last longer than the fizz of champagne. My single resolution this year is for personal growth. It is to Wag More and Bark Less. It's simple and should be easy to implement once I know how to "wag more" -- how to relax, let go of what I cannot change, etc. (education). And I realize that that I "bark" too much with my family so its up to me if its going to be(motivation). So the only missing piece I've got covered too. My best friend says "Wag, wag, Anne" when I need a reminder (support). I think a change is going to come.

[Lizzie]

Well, I vowed BEFORE the new year that I just really need to get a handle on the clutter that is overwhelming my life. So I'm always on the lookout for good articles and tips. I'll have to wait until mid-month to look for your book! In the meantime, I'm high on the book, "Your Spacious Self." Little steps, small steps, leading to big changes. I kind of regard this book as "Chicken Soup for the Cluttered Soul." And I'm making progress!

[chaotic kitten]

There are some great suggestions here, thank you. I can do it!