Christmas has come and gone, and now we are all getting ready for the New Year. During this time of year, you might be reflecting on what you accomplished in 2018 and thinking about what you hope to happen in 2019. The New Year is traditionally viewed as a time to try something new, build better habits, or wipe your slate clean and have a fresh start. Because of this, many people all over the world take part in creating New Year’s resolutions, or goals that they hope to achieve in the coming year. Millions of people start the year off on the right foot, but unfortunately, it is estimated that approximately 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. The startling realization that resolutions may be harder to achieve than we think means we need to go about setting goals in the right way. Whether your New Year’s resolution is to have a healthier lifestyle, save money, or excel in your career as a truck driver, use these tactics to help you stick to your resolutions all year long.
21 Days
Research by Dr. Maxwell Maltz shows that it takes the human brain roughly 21 days to adjust to life changes, big or small. If you can stick with your resolutions consistently for 21 days, you will have a much greater chance of forming a habit and achieving your goals. Hoping to be healthier in 2019? Try practicing a few, small healthy habits for 21 days and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you have settled into your new habit.
Write it Down
One of the easiest ways you can accomplish your resolutions is to simply write your goals down. The small act of writing your goals makes them seem more tangible and real, instead of just an idea in your head. Writing your goals down will also make you feel more committed to them. This year, write your goals down and place them somewhere where you will see them often to remind you and hold you more accountable. It also doesn’t hurt to share your goals with one or two people who you trust so they can motivate you and help you stay on track.
SMART Goals
Perhaps the most common reason for not accomplishing New Year’s resolutions is because we tend to create goals for ourselves that are too difficult or ambiguous. This year, strive to make SMART goals—goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound. Instead of saying, “I want to achieve a higher status in Elite Awards in 2019” try something along the lines of, “To gain a higher Elite Awards status, I will slow my accelerations and reduce idling to improve my MPG score from 4 to 5 stars by March 2019.” Then, once you achieve that goal, you can set another small, achievable goal for the next few months that will continue to affect your overall Elite Awards status. Creating goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound will help you make goals that are realistic and attainable.
To have long-term success as a professional truck driver, it is important that you create goals for yourself to continually improve your skills, but you will need to go about it in the right way. Whatever your resolutions for 2019 may be, it is important to create SMART goals so you can have a clear picture of what you are hoping to accomplish. Consistently stick with your goals for at least 21 days and write them down so you are regularly reminded of them. By using these three tips, you will feel more confident and have the ability to achieve your resolutions in 2019 and beyond.
