The start of a new year often leads to contemplation and planning for many of us; on both a personal and professional level. We often take a moment to look back on the year that has passed and to the New Year that lies ahead; with the time taken to perhaps consider some New Year Resolutions.
Are you someone who likes to set yourself some goals and planning or objectives for the year ahead? What do you hope to achieve in 2019?
A straw poll in the PG Paper office showed that we are a team that likes to set ourselves some goals! More than half of the team at HQ have already put pen to paper and written down some new year’s resolutions or goals and planning for 2019. We’re quite impressed by this quick poll, given that in the UK, an average of around one-third of adults takes the time to note down their goals for the year.
“I always write my goals down – I’m a very visual person, so find it much more valuable to put pen to paper when setting myself a goal”, says PG Paper’s Commercial Manager, Gemma.
“Last year, I set myself the goal of climbing Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK and I did it! This year, I’ll set myself a similar challenge and I’ll fundraise for a charitable cause at the same time. I also plan to read at least one book every month.”
Most personal goals or resolutions often center around health and fitness at this time of year, on the back of the over-indulgence of the festive period. We’re sure that the New Year’s resolutions our Financial Controller, Beth, has set for herself of “drink more water, exercise more, cook healthier meals and eat fewer crisps” will resonate with most of us!
Some statistics!
- The average adult has 1500 thoughts a minute; so even for the best multi-taskers around, it’s maybe a big ask to add some New Year goals to the general clutter of everyday thoughts!
- Fewer than one-third of people take the time to write down their New Year resolutions.
- Some reports suggest that 92% of us have failed or abandoned some of our resolutions as early as Jan 15!
Write it down for success!
We decided to reach out to Suj Legha, an experienced business coach and mentor, to ask for his take on setting goals for a successful year.
“When you are more concerned with the goal you set than on the specifics of how you are going to accomplish it, or even whether it is realistic and achievable, you can set yourself up for failure”, says Suj.
Suj’s 7 Rules for New Year Resolutions
Rule 1: Commit to your resolutions, be realistic
If you set the bar too high, you risk failing. Successful resolutions start with a strong planning and commitment to making a change. To succeed, you must believe that you can accomplish what you set out to and that belief is bolstered by the unwavering support you give yourself.
Rule 2: Put them on paper
A simple but powerful technique for making your goal really is to put your resolution into writing. Consider writing it down on pieces of card and keeping it where you’ll see it often – on your desk, the fridge, in your wallet.
Rule 3: Create a plan
This is where so many resolutions fall down. Articulating what you want to achieve is one thing; deciding how to do it is quite another. Don’t miss out this step!
Rule 4: Stay flexible
Not everything will work out precisely the way you planned. If you are too rigid in your approach to resolutions the first minor obstacle can throw you off your course completely.
Rule 5: Reminders system
It’s hard to keep focused on your plan when you have many other commitments, responsibilities, and obligations. The best way to stay on top of your resolution is to develop a formal reminder system.
Rule 6: Track your progress
You won’t know how well you are doing unless you keep track of your progress. This is why your detailed plan is so important. You need to know when each milestone is accomplished. The excitement around the little successes will keep you motivated and keep you pushing forwards.
Rule 7: Reward yourself!
We all enjoy a little treat from time to time. Even the most committed person needs a boost and sometimes that is best accomplished through an external reward.
We hope that our first blog of 2019 has provided you with some food for thought on New Year’s resolutions.
We all know that a goal without any planning, is just a wish. The PG Paper team will therefore be planning and working hard on our business goals for 2019, and we wish you every success in setting and achieving yours.
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