New Week's Resolution - Week 9

nossmf
nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
in Challenges
Welcome to the first week of the rest of your life! Now seems like a perfect time to select a New Week's Resolution.

What is a New Week's Resolution? It's exactly the same as a New Year's Resolution, with two important distinctions: it only lasts for one week, and you can start one any time you want, rather than just once per year.

So what's wrong with New Year's Resolutions? According to some quick Google research, just one thing: they DON'T WORK!
  • 23% of people quit within the first week
  • 43% quit by the end of January
  • 80% quit by mid-February
  • 92% fail to make it a full year
Why such high rates of failure? Probably because most resolutions fail to follow these simple steps from the SMART method:
  • Specific - "exercise more" is vague; "hit the gym twice this week" is specific
  • Measurable - did I go twice? Yes or no?
  • Achievable - "drink a gallon of water per day" may not be realistic; drink 8oz is
  • Relevant - if it doesn't matter to YOU, why bother?
  • Time-bound - keep your goal for this week something quick you can reach THIS week
With these thoughts in mind, what is ONE thing you want to do this week? Some examples may include:
  • Hit the gym two times this week
  • Cook a meal from scratch three times this week
  • Go to bed no later than 10pm every night
  • Limit myself to one alcoholic beverage this week
  • Finish two pages of my family photo album
...and so on. While this is very similar in nature to the famous "Just Give Me 10 Days" series, that challenge focuses primarily on weight loss and diet control, whereas this challenge is of a broader nature, including interpersonal relationships, home improvements, health and fitness and more. Just pick something specific you wish to focus upon, set a number goal you can reach (or not), and make status updates to document your progress. This will be a judgment-free zone: if you do not reach your goal, take the time to figure out why not (too big a goal, life happened, etc), and forgive yourself, because you can always try again next week.

Replies

  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    Getting setup for this week. My plan is to continue what I started in previous weeks, and add one more focus item every week as I go. Eventually older items will drop off the list, not because I no longer want to do them, but because they will have become so ingrained a part of my daily routine that I no longer need to record them to make sure they get done.

    Past focus items successfully transitioned to un-monitored habit:
    Floss every night before bed
    Clean litter box every night before bed
    Kiss wife within one (1) minute of arriving home from work, gym, store, church, etc
    Wearing my glasses every day, all day
    Park in furthest spot available

    Ongoing focus items:
    Get at least six hours of sleep every night
    Wash dinner dishes the same night they're used

    New focus item:
    (I was unsuccessful in reaching this goal last week, so let's try it again!) Take my dog on a walk two times this week - Rationale: we have a back yard, so usually when the dog wants out to exercise or take care of business, we just let him out into the yard. This meets his physical needs, but not his other needs: social with other dogs we encounter, curiosity for all the smells available, time spent with humans. We used to walk him (semi) regularly, but I allowed life to get in the way. Time to start recovering that time with him, starting with a small step, easy to track: taking him on a walk twice this week. Once the pattern gets reestablished, future weeks will increase the number to three or even four times per week. (Doubt I'll go above that frequency, for fear of failing to make it too often.)
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    Continuing with intentional non-food stress relief, to include when possible holiday related activity.
  • AdahPotatah2024
    AdahPotatah2024 Posts: 2,443 Member
    In progress-
    Trying to make less than an hour of youtube(tv) on workdays a habit..posting at least on item for sale per week until I have 50 items on etsy.

    This week- I'm going to spend 20 min.+ per day designing a few business cards to post in coffee shops around town.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    Monday:

    Sleep...check!
    Dishes...check!
    Dog walk...0/2
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    Check. Watched a holiday music special... always surprised at the power of music to lift spirits.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    Tuesday:

    Sleep...check!
    Dishes...check!
    Dog walk...0/2
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    edited December 18
    Check, another r&r holiday movie & early to bed instead of comfort holiday goodie feasting.... it's a shift to comfort in non-food ways.
  • AdahPotatah2024
    AdahPotatah2024 Posts: 2,443 Member
    ✔️ so far!
  • AdahPotatah2024
    AdahPotatah2024 Posts: 2,443 Member
    I was gifted processed meat and cheese that has turned in to luxury dog treats. 😬
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    Check
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    Wednesday:

    Sleep...check!
    Dishes...check!
    Dog walk...0/2
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    Thursday:

    Sleep...check!
    Dishes...check!
    Dog walk...0/2
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    check - more seasonal music!
  • AdahPotatah2024
    AdahPotatah2024 Posts: 2,443 Member
    ✔️ for all except actually posting the cards around..I'll try to do that next week!
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    Friday:

    Sleep...check!
    Dishes...darn it
    Dog walk...1/2
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    edited December 21
    Check

    Just to note, having a 1 thing focus for the week has been surprisingly helpful.

    Adapting as a regular focus action for 2025. May do a monthly calendar broader themed/topical effort... f.ex. Jan - health.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    edited December 23
    Saturday:

    Sleep...check!
    Dishes...check!
    Dog walk...1/2
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    Check!
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    edited December 23
    *wrong thread*
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,073 Member
    Sunday:

    Sleep...check!
    Dishes...check!
    Dog walk...1/2

    Ok, this makes two weeks in a row where I only get a single dog walk completed. Been thinking about what makes this one challenge more challenging than the others, and the biggest factor I can come up with is the time requirement: most of what I've been challenging myself to do can be completed in a minute or less (or five minutes in the case of dishes), while the dog walk is normally 20-30 minutes long. I doubt the issue is the physical exertion required, considering the normal exercise regimen in which I engage. Hmm...
  • Adventurista
    Adventurista Posts: 2,133 Member
    Check

    Pets seem to have a keen internal clock and profound joy when they get to go out. Would it be possible to pair with other something? A natch post dinner, or with another person too? Or? Just a thought.... @nossmf

    Wishing everyone a great rest of the year as we ring out 2024 and daydream our 2025! Cheers :)

Categories