What was your 2017 New Year’s Resolution?

— Lose Weight

— Stop Smoking

— Get Organized

— Spend More Time with Friends & Family

— Get Out of Debt / Save Money

In the US there is an 88 % failure rate for New Year’s Resolutions!! According to Caroline Arnold, author of Small Move, Big Change – Using Microresolutions to Transform Your Life Permanently, being successful with your resolutions doesn’t take more will power — it just takes microresolutions. You may ask, “What are microresolutions?” They are small — but meaningful — behavioral changes that result in immediate rewards and permanent change.

Small Move, Big Change is a quick read — and it is filled with concrete examples and recommendations for developing your own microresolutions. Arnold recommends only taking on 1-2 microresolutions until they become a habit because taking on any more will result in failure.

My Microresolution — Bookkeeping Organization
One microresolution I have tried since reading the book has resulted in a habit that has paid off with big dividends. Bookkeeping has always been a challenge for me because I don’t enjoy it and I have historically put it off until it becomes a BIG project. I resolved to make one small change to dramatically improve the ease of my bookkeeping. Each morning, as soon as I walk in my office I empty the receipts from my purse and spend my first 10 minutes organizing my finances. I have been relentless in not doing anything else during the first 10 minutes of my day. I can’t believe the impact this has had in turning around my bookkeeping resistance. I can easily track my success because there is no vagueness — I either spend the first 10 minutes on bookkeeping or I don’t.

Microresolution Challenge: Focus on your priority projects first – email is not your job.
While Bookkeeping may not be a challenge for you, try this microresolution on for size.

At the start of the day most people sit down at their computer and immediately check their email. While this may feel like a productive and efficient strategy, it can get you sidetracked onto other people’s priorities which can put your most important work goals on the back burner.

Try spending the first 15 minutes of your day reviewing your Priority/To-Do list so that your priorities are fresh in your mind. This one microresolution can help you to stay on track so that you do not lose sight of what is important to you. Remember, email is NOT your job — it is just a communication tool.

I’ve tried several other microresolutions that have become positive habits. I encourage you to read Small Move, Big Change and try Caroline Arnold’s system for yourself.

I look forward to hearing about your microresolution successes.