We are really looking forward to 2016 here at Davis Vision and we can’t wait to make it great. We want to help make 2016 a great year for you too! We know the New Year is a time when many people set goals for the upcoming year to improve their lives and themselves. We also know that actually accomplishing those goals is something that most people don’t do. We have taken some steps from http://ideas.ted.com/the-science-of-setting-goals/ this TED talk to help you dial in those resolutions and make 2016 all you are dreaming of and more.
Choose a goal that matters, not just an easy win. A meaningful goal — one that truly inspires you to change — requires going deeper. “Give yourself permission and time to think about what it is you want to experience in your life or what’s getting in the way,” says McGonigal. Think about what you want in the coming year, then ask yourself why you want that — three times in a row. For example, if you want to quit smoking, ask why do you want to quit? Then, if you want to quit for your health, ask why do you want good health? Then, if your answer is to be alive long enough to meet your grandchildren, ask why do you want to meet your grandchildren? “You get to something that just feels so obviously important to you,” says McGonigal. It really drives home why that goal matters, and that motivation can bolster you as you work toward the goal.
Focus on the process, not the outcome. “People often get lost thinking they have to change everything all at once,” says McGonigal. “But small changes can pave the way for bigger changes.” Ask yourself, what is the smallest thing I can do today that helps me reach my goal? For example, if you’re shy and you want to be more outgoing, you might accept someone’s invitation to lunch or say hi to someone you usually walk past in the hallway. From there, just follow the breadcrumbs — one small choice after another.
Frame your goals positively. Think about what you want to foster in yourself or what you want to do more often. That positivity can help motivate you when you find yourself slipping. “Saying ‘I don’t want to be fat anymore’ gives you no positive motivation to draw on when you just ate the second box of donuts,” says McGonigal. Be nice to yourself. It works.
Prepare for failure (in a good way). Your task is not to avoid failures, but to plan for them. Ask yourself, how am I likely to fail? For example, if you’re likely to choose unhealthy meals when you’re hungry, carry a light snack that can tide you over. Psychologists call this an if/then contingency plan, or “if this happens, then I’ll do that.” It’s a mental plan for how you’ll react to things that might trip you up.
We hope this helps you in the coming year and as always if you need assistance with your vision needs give us a call, we would love to see you at Davis Vision Center.
