It’s the beginning of yet another year. This is a time where many people make New Year’s resolutions. Things like, lose weight, join a gym, stop smoking, get up earlier etc. The Business Insider magazine reports that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. That’s not very encouraging. The desire for a fresh start may be there, but the follow-through is not.
Most common New Year’s resolutions
According to a recent ComRes poll, the most common New Year’s resolutions include:
- Exercise more (38 percent)
- Lose weight (33 percent)
- Eat more healthily (32 percent)
- Take a more active approach to health (15 percent)
- Learn new skill or hobby (15 percent)
- Spend more time on personal wellbeing (12 percent)
- Spend more time with family and friends (12 percent)
- Drink less alcohol (12 percent)
- Stop smoking (9 percent)
- Other (1 percent)
This New Year, I challenged you NOT to make resolutions. I challenge you to ask yourself the question. What is your non-negotiable? What are the things, activities and or people in your life that you can not live without?
I have been watching “The Crown” on Netflix. In one episode, Queen Elizabeth and Philip sit down to talk about their marriage. Queen Elizabeth tells Philip that getting a divorce can never happen. It simply is out of the question and they have to make the marriage work. Queen Elizabeth’s marriage was her non-negotiable.
Rosa Parks, in Montgomery Alabama, refused to give up her seat on the bus that fateful day in1955 – that was her non-negotiable.
Your non-negotiable doesn’t have to be as notable as Queen Elizabeth or Rosa Parks. It is about decisions that help you achieve your goals and purpose.
My son took the same math class three times because without it he would not have been able to obtain his degree. The world is full of people who use this strategy to achieve their life goals.
I exercise most mornings, commit to getting 8 hours a sleep and have weekly family dinners to stay connected. My non-negotiables are small in comparison to some. However, they keep me focused on my physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
This, 2018 I challenge you to make your own list of non-negotiables. This will give you the confidence and mindset that your list will happen no matter what. After all, it’s non-negotiable.
I wonder how many of these people made New Year’s resolutions.
Thanks for this post Jan. It does make me stop and think about what is really important, and what is merely a nice to do.