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Trinia's New Year, New Resolution? {COMPLETED}
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Despite the best of intentions, once the glow of a fresh new year wears off, many people struggle to make good on their plans. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, only 46% of people who made New Year’s resolutions were successful. That means over half of the people who set a goal for the new year will fail!
The study also involved non-resolvers, people who did not make a New Year’s resolution but had a goal they wanted to achieve that year. Only 4% of non-resolvers were successful at achieving their goals, a far bleaker result than those who did make a New Year’s resolution.
Naturally, we don’t want to be in the camp of folks that fail to achieve their aspirations and dreams for 2023, so we’ve put together an exhaustive plan for following through on your resolution.
If you want to realize your New Year’s resolution this year, follow these 10 steps.
Part A:
Step 1 - Mentally Prepare for Change
Changing ingrained habits is no easy task, so before diving head-first into your New Year goals, it is important to take a step back and get ready for that impending change.
The first breakthrough in change is taking a personal inventory. Being that it’s the end of one year and the beginning of the next, it’s perfect timing to take stock of the past year’s accomplishments. Think about the following:
What did I set out to do in the past year?
Where did I make progress?
Where didn’t I see progress?
Naturally, your resolution may focus on areas that lack progress, but don’t forget to savor the progress made and find some small way to celebrate. Those happy feelings are useful! If possible, try to associate them with an object or word related to your accomplishment.
You will want to keep upbeat with your new resolution, so you can use that positive association with last year’s accomplishments to remind you of those good feelings when you are feeling challenged.
As you start thinking about the changes you want to implement, make sure to do the following:
Stay positive
Try not to make big/quick changes
Change should be gradual
Build on smaller changes
Allow a little room for error
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with an MPG of Cerebral. You can find some on this list.
2. Read a book where a character works out.
3. Read a book with the author's first OR last initial is found in PREPARE.
4. Read a book where all the letters of C-H-A-N-G-E are found anywhere in the title/subtitle.
Completion Post:Part A or B: A
Prompt Number / Name: Step 1 - Mentally Prepare for Change
Book: Crocodile on the Sandbank
Author: Elizabeth Peters
Date Read: 1/1/24
Task: 3. Read a book with the author's first OR last initial is found in PREPARE.
How it Fits: Author's initials EP in PrEpare
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Step 2 - Set a Goal That Motivates You
You would be surprised how often people set goals that are not for themselves. These goals could be dictated to or coerced by a manager, spouse, or parental/peer pressure.
While it’s nice to have some external support, if you don’t share the same passion, the resolution has a small chance of succeeding and could even be dead on arrival.
To do this, you need to make sure the goal you set is important to you and only you and that there is value or benefit for you in achieving the goal. It is these two things that will provide the reason and willingness to take action. This is also known as motivation!
Thus, it’s a safe bet if your resolutions align with the following:
Your goals
Your priorities
Your dreams
Your aspirations
Not only should you align around your innermost desires, but you should also make sure the resolutions align with your top priorities. This will lead to a “must do” attitude.
If your goals are career-centric, like improving your Excel skills, creating your own professional development plan is a great way to stay motivated on the path toward your goal.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with a character who has big dreams or aspirations.
2. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in MOTIVATION.
3. Read a book with a title that begins with a letter in GOALS.
4. Read a book you have been motivated to read.
Completion Post:Part A
Prompt Number / Name: Step 2 - Set a Goal That Motivates You
Book: The Woman in Me
Author: Britney Spears
Date Read: 1/2/24
Task: 1. Read a book with a character who has big dreams or aspirations.
How it Fits: Britney has dreams of becoming an independent female pop star.
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Step 3 - Limit Resolutions to a Manageable Amount
A common mistake in resolution setting is having too many and spreading yourself too thin. We all want to learn 25 different languages, 15 new job skills, and eliminate 5 bad habits, but we are not superheroes. We only have so much attention span we can dedicate to self-improvement, so having too many resolutions is a great way not to achieve the many goals you have set out for yourself.
Thus, you should make a short list of resolutions that you can manage in the upcoming year. Knowing that short list of priorities is the hard part. The key here is understanding how to prioritize.
Here is an exercise that you can undertake to help you figure out what is most important in your life. All you need is a post-it pad, a pen, and a wall.
Write anything you want to accomplish for self-improvement purposes on a post-it
Each post-it only gets one discreet tactic
Place each post-it on the wall
Go crazy - use as many post-its as possible
Group together similar post-its
Place the topics you feel strongly about at the top of the wall
Put the topics you feel “meh” about on the bottom
Spend a lot of time thinking about the order of the first 3-5 post-it (groups)
As you might suspect, #8 is the most time-consuming because it will determine what resolutions you are going to take on this year.
The final piece of the puzzle here is knowing your limitations and personal bandwidth. With that in mind, you should focus on your top priorities while balancing how much attention you can honestly devote to a resolution.
Final thought: It’s better to tackle one resolution well than multiple resolutions poorly.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with a title that DOES NOT start with a letter in LIMIT.
2. Read a book with a post-it note or some other office supply on the cover.
3. Read a book with a 3 or a 5 in the page count.
4. Read a book where more than one language is included in the text.
Completion Post:Part A :
Prompt Number / Name: Step 3 - Limit Resolutions to a Manageable Amount
Book: The Appeal
Author: Janice Hallett
Date Read: 1/5
Task: 3. Read a book with a 3 or a 5 in the page count.
How it Fits: Book has 432 pages
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Step 4 - Be Specific
When it comes to setting resolutions, it’s easy to set bad goals that could lead to poor follow-through. Fortunately, the SMART goal-setting framework can help you craft better goals.
SMART goals are:
Specific - Articulate the resolution as clearly as possible. For example, quitting smoking is better than being healthy. While “being healthy” is great, the wording can be interpreted in many ways.
Measurable - Quantify your resolution if possible, i.e., I will lose 10% of my body weight.
Achievable - Choose a goal within the realm of possibility yet challenging. Making 100 friends this year would be amazing but probably pretty hard to do. On the other, making 10 new friends is doable.
Realistic - Keep it relevant to your priorities and goals. See the motivation section above!
Timely - Give yourself a time frame in which to achieve a goal. A deadline will instill some urgency and provide a time when you can celebrate your success.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with a smart character.
2. Read a book where the MC makes a list, mentally or physically.
3. Read a book with a light bulb or some other artificial light source on the cover.
4. Read a book with a two-word title.
Completion Post:Part A :
Prompt Number / Name: Step 4 - Be Specific
Book: The Devil Wears Scrubs
Author: Freida McFadden
Date Read: 1/5/24
Task: 1. Read a book with a smart character.
How it Fits: Dr Ryan Reilly is smart surgery resident
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Step 5 - Break Up Big Goals Into Smaller Goals
A lot of us tend to be over-eager and grandiose when it comes to resolutions. We have the best of intentions and may accidentally take on a goal that is too big to achieve. Thus, it’s helpful to divide a big goal into smaller goals that are more achievable.
Let’s say you are the leader of an alien race, and your resolution for 2023 is capturing the planet Earth. That is a huge goal!! You can’t just tell your intergalactic fleet of spaceships “take over planet Earth,” and expect success.
You have to chunk up this big crazy feat into smaller more management accomplishments:
Claim New York City
Sack the Tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
Dominate Eastern Seaboard
Capture the United States of America
Occupy North America
Similarly, you can break up your year-long resolution into weekly or monthly goals. And have tasks planned for each month.
January: North America
March: South America
May: Europe
July: Asia
September: Africa
By breaking your tactical plan into discrete steps, you now have a pretty good chance of world domination by the end of the year.
Now chunking up a big goal is easier said than done. Here are a few tips to help you make your massive goal more achievable:
Create a list of sub-tasks
Prioritize and order them
Use a visual map to display
Assign milestones to each task
Decide how much time each task requires
Allocate resources accordingly
Focus on the next step, not the big goal
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book that includes a map.
2. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in GRANDIOSE.
3. Read a book set in North America.
4. Read a book with alien characters.
Completion Post:
Part A :
Prompt Number / Name: Step 5 - Break Up Big Goals Into Smaller Goals
Book: First Lie Wins
Author: Ashley Elston
Date Read: 1/7/24
Task: 2. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in GRANDIOSE.
How it Fits: MC name is Evie Porter - Evie in grandiosE
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Step 6 - Write Down Your Goals
While it’s great to have goals, it is critical to document them in some way. Here are six reasons to write down your goals:
1. They are easy to forget. While that may seem silly, we are human, and it is human to be easily distracted and forgetful.
2. Writing down your resolutions helps you clarify what it is you want to achieve. It forces you to make decisions and be precise with your words.
3. Writing establishes intention, but action needs to be taken to achieve your resolution. Having a written account of your goals is a constant reminder to take action.
4. Written goals can act as a filter and guiding light for what opportunities to pursue. On any given day, there are a million decisions to make. When in doubt, refer to the goals you have set to dictate the way forward.
5. Documented goals will help you overcome resistance to progress. We set goals to move forward, but there is a natural resistance to change. Your written goals spur you forward when you hit a speed bump or obstacle.
6. Finally, written goals are a reminder of how far you have come and what you have achieved. It’s a nice feeling to look back at the end of next year and know your resolution has come to fruition. It’s a reason to crack open that bottle of champagne and celebrate.
Here are a few ways you can document your resolutions for the new year:
Write them in a journal
Draft an email to yourself
Store in Evernote or some other note-taking tool
Print and tape to the wall
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book where at least one hand is visible on the cover.
2. Read a book where an app is used.
3. Read a book where a character writes something by hand or electronically.
4. Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in DOCUMENT.
Completion Post:Part A
Prompt Number / Name: Step 6 - Write Down Your Goals
Book: The Man in the Brown Suit
Author: Agatha Christie
Date Read: 1/8
Task: 4. Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in DOCUMENT.
How it Fits: Title starts with T or M in title The or Man
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Step 7 - Share Your Resolutions With Others
“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
It’s great to make a resolution for yourself and maybe even write it down, but if no one else knows about it, it’s easy to forget about or even ignore. And when you don’t achieve it, no one will notice or care.
On the flip side, your counterparts who decided to tell someone about their goal, feel something different. Now that they’ve gone public with their goal, they feel a sense of obligation and accountability. Essentially, if you don’t follow through, they are going to let everyone down.
Crazy as it sounds, this sense of guilt is often more powerful than self-motivation. The upshot here is that when you do succeed, the people you shared with will celebrate with you!
If you want to take goal sharing to the next level, you could organize a mastermind group. A mastermind group is a collection of highly motivated people who share a common goal and are looking to encourage and help each other improve.
How to do it:
Find some kindred spirits with similar goals
Meet regularly (weekly or monthly, depending on the level of commitment)
Share setbacks and progress
Stay motivated!
Now, if you don’t have the time or inclination to do the above, another way to achieve the same result is to make a Facebook post declaring your intentions to all your friends. You can bet people will cheer you on and ask about your progress over the course of the year!
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book that has friends as characters.
2. Read a book with all the letters of S-H-A-R-E found anywhere in the title/subtitle.
3. Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT FOUND in OTHERS.
4. Read a book where a character suffers a setback.
Completion postPart A
Prompt Number / Name: Step 7 - Share Your Resolutions With Others
Book: The Past Is Red
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Date Read: 1/10
Task: 4. Read a book where a character suffers a setback.
How it Fits: Tetley suffers a setback when she realizes Mars is inhabited by people.
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Step 8 - Automate Where Possible
A stitch in time saves nine.
The good news is you probably have technology in your pocket that can help you follow through on your resolution - automation in the form of reminder apps.
Nowadays, there are a million different apps and services to help you follow through on your resolutions. These free tools can help provide a constant reminder:
Google Calendar: Set a recurring meeting tied to your resolution, i.e. scheduling workout sessions at the gym.
Google Now: Personal assistant that provides information as you need it.
Reminders (on iOS): Set up timed alerts for tasks.
Boomerang for Gmail: Schedule reminder emails to yourself (Freemium).
On top of these commonly used apps, there are also “to-do list” and task management apps that have the ability to schedule reminders and milestones. Here are a few popular choices:
Asana
Trello
Todoist
Microsoft To Do
Omnifocus
Things
Note: All of these apps listed above won’t help you do the work, but they do serve as a constant reminder of the work that needs to be done.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book where a character uses a cell phone.
2. Read a book with a rhyming title.
3. Read a book with a character who goes to the gym.
4. Read a book where the author's first initial is found in ASANA and the last initial is found in TRELLO.
Completion Post:Part A
Prompt Number / Name: Step 8 - Automate Where Possible
Book: This Is How It Always Is
Author: Laurie Frankel
Date Read: 1/11
Task: 1. Read a book where a character uses a cell phone.
How it Fits: Penn calls Rosie on her cell phone in Thailand
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Step 9 - Review Your Resolution Regularly
Let’s face it, if you are not thinking about your resolution regularly, you are not going to follow through. Thus, a crucial part of realizing your goal is a regular review.
At a minimum, this review should be monthly, but the more frequent, the better.
Here’s one way to build goal review into your routine.
Schedule a monthly “big picture” review during the first week of each month. This will serve as a planning meeting where you distribute smaller tasks and goals to different weeks throughout the month.
Do a weekly check-in to check progress on the monthly goal.
Set a daily reminder for smaller resolution tasks.
It may seem a little crazy to think about your resolution every single day, but it is those smaller incremental steps that lead to massive changes over the course of a single year.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with an alliterative title.
2. Read a book where the MC does something on a regular basis.
3. Read a book with a "big picture" on the cover, like a landscape, cityscape, etc.
4. Read a book with more than one character who has a first initial found in ROUTINE.
Completion Post:Part A
Prompt Number / Name: Step 9 - Review Your Resolution Regularly Book: The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Date Read: 1/12
Task: 4. Read a book with more than one character who has a first initial found in ROUTINE.
How it Fits: Character names : Ruby, Nelle, Ruth
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Step 10 - If Your Fall Off Track, Get Back On Quick
Rome was not built in a day.
We’ve established it will take time for your resolution to become a reality, and we know change is difficult. In fact, we’ve already established we should leave some room for mistakes and setbacks.
Keep the following ideas in mind:
Skipping an intermediate task is not a complete failure
Missing a goal by 10% or even 80% is not a complete failure
Finishing a task late is not a complete failure
A moment of weakness is meaningless in the grand scheme of things
Setbacks can happen, but so long as they are handled correctly, they will not impact the big goal. The key is to avoid a defeatist attitude at all costs, i.e., “Well, I screwed up once, why should I even try to do this anymore.”
And if there is a setback, it’s important to understand what led to that moment and how you can avoid a similar situation in the future, i.e., "If I play video games after work, I will not go to the gym. Don’t play video games after work!"
Once a mistake is made, own it and move on to the next thing. For example, if you skipped a study session, make it up tomorrow, and keep on moving. A few small mistakes shouldn’t spoil your resolution for the year!
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with a train on the cover.
2. Read a book where all the letters in TRACK are found anywhere in the title/subtitle.
3. Read a book where a character makes a mistake.
4. Read a book that includes a well-known quote like, "Rome was not built in a day."
Completion Post:Part A
Prompt Number / Name: Step 10 - If Your Fall Off Track, Get Back On Quick
Book: The Madwomen of Paris
Author: Jennifer Cody Epstein
Date Read: 1/15
Task: 3. Read a book where a character makes a mistake.
How it Fits: Rosalie makes a mistake by disobeying her doctor when getting hypnotized and she is punished by getting sent to the sections of the hospital for the insane rather than the hysterical.
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Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions, hoping to spark positive change. The recurring themes each year include a more active approach to health and fitness, improved finances, and learning new things for personal and professional development.
Making resolutions, or goal setting, is like having your own personal cheerleader, rooting for you to succeed! When you set goals, you're making a promise to yourself and your dreams. It's all about being accountable and taking ownership of your actions. With goals in place, you create a structure that keeps you on track and motivated.
Deadlines and milestones become your trusty sidekicks, reminding you to stay focused and disciplined. By sticking to your plan and putting in the effort day in and day out, you develop habits that pave the way for your growth and success, whether it's in your career or personal life.
Chances are, more than a couple of the top 10 most common resolutions will look familiar to you.
Part B:
#10 - Read More
Take a few minutes before the end of the year and write a reading goal for yourself. Start with an appropriate level of challenge based on your current reading habits and build from there. I have shared the books I read in 2023 as a potential starting point for ideas of some books you might read in the coming year.
Set a goal to read just a little more each day than you normally do. If you don't read at all, you can set a goal to read 3-5 pages a day. If you normally read around 25 minutes each day, read for 30. If you use Todoist, create a task that recurs every day with the number of pages or amount of time you want to read.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book where the MC reads a book.
2. Read a book from your favorite genre.
3. Read a book from a genre you rarely read from.
4. Read a book about books, like ones from this list.
Completion Post:Part A
Prompt Number / Name: #10 - Read More
Book: The Way I Used to Be
Author: Amber Smith
Date Read: 1/17/24
Task: 1. Read a book where the MC reads a book.
How it Fits: Eden reads a book in the library with her book club
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#9 - Travel More
Is your New Year’s resolution to travel more? If your work allows it, take advantage of remote work and increased flexibility to spend more time away from home. Maximize your remote work days by logging in from airport lounges, specialized hotel rooms or even on board your flight.
If your job requires in-person interaction, you’ll have less flexibility to travel, but make sure to take your vacation days. You’ve earned them, after all.
One last thing to note, no matter your job: Unplug during your time off. Doing so makes you a better employee and reduces burnout. And whose employer will be upset about that?
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book where the MC travels to another country.
2. Read a book with a mode of transportation on the cover.
3. Read a book where the title contains NO letters from the word UNPLUG.
4. Read a book that is set in a remote location {your discretion}.
Completion Post:Part B
Prompt Number / Name: #9 - Travel More
Book: The Women
Author: Kristin Hannah
Date Read: 1/19
Task: 1. Read a book where the MC travels to another country
How it Fits: Frankie travels from US to Vietnam when she signs up for the Army Nurse Corp
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#8 - Spend More Time With Family and Friends
The popular New Year’s resolution to spend more time with loved ones — whether that be romantic partners, parents, siblings, friends or others — can actually offer a variety of physical and mental health benefits.
For individuals who are looking for ways to spend more time with their partners, family or friends, here are five main areas to focus on:
1. Showing love for the other person.
2. Talking about a future together.
3. Being a cheerleader for the other person.
4. Prioritizing the relationship and spending time together.
5. Having fun together doing enjoyable activities.
By taking actionable steps to spend more time with the people they love, individuals can boost their overall health, from psychological well-being to physical and behavioral improvements. Spending more time with loved ones can help decrease feelings of loneliness or isolation and reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress. Likewise, feeling happier in their relationships is associated with improved biological function like lower inflammation, lower stress hormones and better cardiovascular health.
Other benefits include better sleep, lower disease risk and healthier behaviors, as engaging in more activities with loved ones can encourage behaviors such as trying exercise classes together.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book about a family or friend group.
2. Read a book tagged FAMILY any number of times.
3. Read a book where two characters do an activity together {be creative}.
4. Read a book where a character's sleep is mentioned.
Completion Post:Part B:
Prompt Number / Name: #8 - Spend More Time With Family and Friends
Book: The Body: A Guide for Occupants
Author: Bill Bryson
Date Read: 1/20
Task: 4. Read a book where a character's sleep is mentioned.
How it Fits: Chapter on Sleep; pg 264 ~ "On a visit to a sleep clinic the wrist A. Alvarez thought he had experienced and unbroken night's sleep but discovered when his chart was reviewed in the morning that he had woken up twenty-three times."
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#7 - Quit Smoking
New Year is the most popular time of the year to hit the proverbial “reset” button—an opportunity to set new goals and resolve to live a happier and healthier life.
One common resolution people make is to quit smoking. Most adults who smoke want to quit. And quitting is possible! Since 2002, there are more people who used to smoke than people who currently smoke. Quitting smoking is one of the best decisions a person who smokes can make to improve their health and to protect the health of others.
Choosing to quit smoking as a New Year’s resolution can be a challenge, but with a solid plan in place, you can make 2024 the year you’ve quit for good! There is no better time to quit than right now!
When you first make your resolution, it can be daunting. Where do you start? Like a lot of successful ventures, it starts with a plan. First, set a date. Committing to a specific date can help you prepare for what’s ahead. Tell your friends and family about your decision and ask them for their support. Throw away your cigarettes, lighters, and ash trays. Think about and plan for how you will handle the things that trigger your urge to smoke. Most importantly, make a list of all the reasons you want to quit smoking. This will come in handy when you have a craving to smoke and start to waver. Finally, explore quitting resources—many that are free—that can help you.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book where a character has a "bad habit."
2. Read a book that has the letter Q anywhere in the title/subtitle.
3. Read a book where a character quits or stops doing something.
4. Read a book where an item is thrown away.
Completion Post:Part B:
Prompt Number / Name: #7 - Quit Smoking
Book: Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen
Author: Susan Gregg Gilmore
Date Read: 1/29
Task: 2. Read a book that has the letter Q anywhere in the title/subtitle.
How it Fits: Q in Queen in title
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#6 - Save More Money / Spend Less Money
Financial resolutions can be easy, like budgeting and tracking your money, or more difficult, like investing in mutual funds or having an emergency fund. Financial literacy is the ability to understand financial concepts. Reducing debt and having a contingency fund are also good financial resolutions.
Check out these creative and practical money saving tips to get you on your way toward your financial goals in the New Year!
Establish a Budget.
Set Savings Goals.
Try the 52-Week Money Challenge.
Save Part of Your Paycheck.
Put Your Bills on Auto-Pay.
Match Your Spending with Saving.
Choose a Credit Card Wisely.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with a wealthy character.
2. Read a book where the MC spends money on something.
3. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in CONTINGENCY.
4. Read a book with a 5 and a 2 in the publication date.
Completion Post:Prompt Number / Name: Part B:
#6 - Save More Money / Spend Less Money
Book: Gallows Hill
Author: Darcy Coates
Date Read: 1/31
Task: 2. Read a book where the MC spends money on something.
How it Fits: Margo spends money on groceries
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#5 - Live Life to the Fullest
What does it mean to live life to the fullest? This phrase might be a total cliche, but it rings true every time. When you live your life to the fullest, you live it to its absolute fullest potential.
Living life to the fullest means living life deeply and intentionally so that life is rich and fulfilling. Take risks and don’t always play it safe, follow your dreams and make them come true, and get out there into the world so you can live an exciting life!
It means being able to live in the moment without regretting anything or wishing you could go back and change things.
It means taking on new challenges and meeting them head-on. It’s about being open to the world around you, taking in all of its beauty so that when you live life to the fullest it can overflow into every aspect of your life.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with a character you think lives life to the fullest.
2. Read a book where the MC meets challenges head-on.
3. Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in CLICHE.
4. Read a book where the author's LAST name DOES NOT start with a letter in RISK.
Completion Post:Part B:
Prompt Number / Name: #5 - Live Life to the Fullest
Book: The Rom-Commers
Author: Katherine Center
Date Read: 2/4
Task: 4. Read a book where the author's LAST name DOES NOT start with a letter in RISK.
How it Fits: ALN starts with C, not in RISK
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#4 - Learn a New Skill or Hobby
People make New Year’s resolutions for a variety of reasons, but at the core is a desire to change.
While many people may choose resolutions where they are making sweeping changes to their lives —losing weight, stopping smoking, getting their finances in order— some people just make the New Year’s resolution of taking up a new hobby.
When thinking about taking up a new hobby, it doesn’t have to be starting a coin collection. Hobbies are activities or interests which are practiced or engaged in mostly for pleasure and outside of your regular job. The benefits of having a hobby are varied.
One of the most important reasons for having a hobby is that it gives you an outlet for enjoyment rather than concentrating only on work. Another benefit is that hobbies allow you to spend time learning a new skill. Depending upon your hobby, you may actually have something physical to show for it when you spend time on your hobby.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book where the MC has a hobby.
2. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in PLEASURE.
3. Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in SKILL.
4. Read a book that has a word in the title with double letters, like skill and hobby do.
Completion Post:Part B:
Prompt Number / Name: #4 - Learn a New Skill or Hobby
Book: The Cold Millions
Author: Jess Walter
Date Read: 2/5
Task: 4. Read a book that has a word in the title with double letters, like skill and hobby do.
How it Fits: Double L in miLLions
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#3 - Get Organized
A quick search on the internet will show you that “Get Organized” is one of the more common New Year’s Resolutions. And even if becoming more organized is not one of your top resolutions for 2024, making your life a little less stressful by organizing will help you achieve any resolution (or goal) you have selected.
Here are five tips to help you become more organized in 2024:
1. Begin using a calendar to organize your to-dos and appointments.
While most people are in the habit of using a calendar for keeping track of appointments and meetings, we recommend that you also add any important to-dos to your calendar. This will help you visually organize your tasks, so you can better manage your time.
2. Organize and save important paperwork in an easily accessible location. Stop letting mail and papers pile up by dedicating 5-10 minutes each day to opening your mail and filing any important paperwork. This will also help you save time (and stress) in the future, as you will no longer have to search through stacks of mail and papers when looking for an important document.
TIP: If your current filing system doesn’t work well for you and your family, make sure you find one that does. And if you are constantly searching for papers for others in your family, consider using a digital file management system that your whole family can access. These systems also help reduce storage space since most paperwork can be saved digitally by scanning or even simply taking a photo of the document and then discarding (or recycling) the paper.
3. Develop a schedule with your family. In a multi-person household, it can be difficult to remember exactly what everyone else has going on. This is why you need to develop your yearly calendar as a family. There’s no excuse for bad communication!
4. Make a list (or two). Even the most organized people in the world need lists to help keep track of tasks, tackle projects, or even just to remember what groceries to buy. If you aren’t using a list to meet your New Year’s Resolutions, start today.
For example, if your goal is to become more organized in 2024, examine your home (and life) and create lists for every area you feel is disorganized. Then, add items/tasks/steps to help you get that area of your life or home more organized. Finally, add dates to each item/task/step to help keep you on track to becoming more organized in that area.
TIP: Use an app that allows you to also add photos (or attachments) to the items on your lists. Whether it is a digital coupon for an item on your grocery list or a photo of a kitchen you love, the ability to add photos can prove helpful on multiple types of lists.
5. Set up a virtual command center. A command center is a centralized location that contains important information that individuals and families may need to reference in the future. From passwords to reminders to important documents, command centers help families organize quickly and easily. The problem with most command centers is that they are located in a home… and not accessible on-the-go. A virtual command center allows individuals and families the ability to access this information even outside of their home.
Becoming more organized may seem like a colossal task, but it doesn’t have to be! By following these tips, you can easily reduce your stress, save time, and meet your New Year’s resolution. See how much simpler life is when you’re organized!
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book with a very organized character.
2. Read a book with a character who needs to follow the tips above.
3. Read a book where the word STRESS is found in the text.
4. Read a book where the first letter of every word in the title can be found in VIRTUAL COMMAND CENTER. {Three-word minimum}
Completion Post:Part B:
Prompt Number / Name: #3 - Get Organized
Book: None of This Is True
Author: Lisa Jewell
Date Read: 2/8
Task:4. Read a book where the first letter of every word in the title can be found in VIRTUAL COMMAND CENTER.
How it Fits: None Of This Is True= NOTIT= vIrTual cOmmaNd cenTer
Mod
#2 - Lose Weight
Deciding on a resolution to “lose weight” should just be the start of your planning. Creating a more specific resolution, such as 'lose X amount of pounds in X amount of weeks', will allow you to track your progress and know when you've achieved your goals.
Losing weight starts with decreasing your food and beverage intake by 500 calories a day. That could potentially help you lose up to 1 pound a week. Eating 500 less calories each day can be done by making small changes in your food choices. The best place to start is with your beverages. By drinking water in place of one 12 oz. juice or soda, you will save 150-200 calories each day.
Another idea is to eat fewer deep-fried foods, which have a lot of hidden fats. For example, if you choose a baked potato over French fries, you can save about 250 calories. With a few small changes, you can easily save 500 calories without eating less food.
Many of us want to lose a lot of weight quickly, but it's important to realize that healthy weight loss can take time. Losing weight too quickly or depriving your body of needed calories can actually lead to weight regain.
Multiple studies show that a small amount of weight loss of 5-10% over a longer period of time is better for your overall health. (That would be 10-20 pounds of weight loss for a person who weighs 200 pounds.)
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book between 150 - 200 pages.
2. Read a book with more than 500 pages.
3. Read a book where the MC drinks water.
4. Read a book where a character eats fried food.
Completion Post:Part B:
Prompt Number / Name: #2 - Lose Weight
Book: Lessons in Chemistry
Author: Bonnie Garmus
Date Read: 2/10
Task: 3. Read a book where the MC drinks water.
How it Fits: pg 74 “she sipped her water
Mod
#1 - Exercise More
In many ways, the ritual of making resolutions on New Year’s is arbitrary. After all, we can set goals at any time. What is it about the turning of the calendar year that makes us especially likely to commit to big goals? “The New Year [is] an opportunity for reflection,” observes licensed clinical psychologist Terri Bly of Ellie Mental Health in Mendota Heights, MN.
As a result, the coming of the new year may lead many of us to consider the changes we want to make or have been told to make in our lives. Then the ritual of making resolutions can serve as a motivator for us to commit to making those changes.
Research shows that 95% of New Year's Resolutions are fitness related, but after just three months, only 10% of people think their resolution will last.
Many of us set ambitious goals requiring a big, regular commitment, but then abandon them because they're too much to fit in. Plans to exercise more in the new year are often broken within a month.
Unfortunately, optimism alone won’t result in the change we want. The reality is there are a number of things about the way we make New Year’s resolutions that set us up for failure before we’ve even started.
We’re thinking too big. One of the biggest issues with New Year’s resolutions is that they often revolve around huge changes. We should ease ourselves into the change, instead of making an overwhelming change that we probably can’t sustain.
Complete ONE of the following:
1. Read a book where the MC exercises.
2. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in RITUAL.
3. Read a book published in January of any year.
4. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in AMBITIOUS.
Completion Post:Part B:
Prompt Number / Name: #1 - Exercise More
Book: Where He Can't Find You
Author: Darcy Coates
Date Read: 2/11
Task: 2. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in RITUAL.
How it Fits: 2 MC"s starting with R in Ritual : Rhys and Riya
Mod
CONGRATULATIONS! You did it! Whether you make resolutions or not, I hope you have had a wonderful start to 2024. I'll see you again soon! 😊
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Where He Can't Find You (other topics)Lessons in Chemistry (other topics)
None of This Is True (other topics)
The Cold Millions (other topics)
The Rom-Commers (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Darcy Coates (other topics)Bonnie Garmus (other topics)
Lisa Jewell (other topics)
Jess Walter (other topics)
Katherine Center (other topics)
More...
New Year, New Resolution?
Individual, Self-Paced Challenge
January 1 - March 31, 2024
Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Or do you despise them? Either way, I'm thrilled to have you along on this individual, self-paced challenge that will look at ways to make resolutions successful, as well as the top 10 resolutions people make.
You will make your Completion Posts here IN YOUR OWN THREAD. Please use this format.
Completion Post:
Part A or B:
Prompt Number / Name:
Book:
Author:
Date Read:
Task:
How it Fits:
If you have any questions, please post them in the Ask Your Life Coach: Q&A Thread.
Challenge Rules:
📘 Standard Rules Apply
📘I will create an individual thread for you prior to the start date.
📘Your first prompt will be posted on January 1, 2024.
📘Books must be completed after the prompt has been posted.
{Source: goskills.com}