By: Hadley Roy H.
According to the US News and World Report, more than 80% of New Year’s Resolutions fail by
February. So what is it that the few 20% do to achieve their dreams and get ahead? If you have big plans for 2025, use these helpful tips from high achievers to dominate your vision board in the new year!
GO SMALL – ATOMICALLY SMALL
James Clear’s book Atomic Habits
is a must read for anyone trying to make big changes and achieve their goals. In his book, Clear discusses S.J. Scott’s principle of “habit stacking.” The theory is scientifically backed and has thousands of success stories already!
In essence, habit stacking involves breaking down big, unattainable goals into small, easily achievable parts and then pairing those achievable steps with automatic “habits” that you already have. For instance, if you want to learn a new language this year, try listening to a five minute news broadcast in your goal language while you do your makeup each morning. While the daily effort is small, this kind of habit stacking can pay off big!
TRY A BULLET JOURNAL
Everyone loves a good to-do list! Bullet journaling is a fully-
customizable planner organization method to help take your to-do list to the next level. Bullet journaling provides a mindful and meditative experience that is carefully designed to improve productivity in the present and encourage goal achievement in the future.
For more information, check out bulletjournal.com or search the topic on YouTube. Getting started is easy and requires only a pen and a dot grid notebook. Customize your layout and watch your productivity soar.
OPTIMIZE YOUR WORKSPACE
It’s hard to get work done if your workspace isn’t working for you. Everyone has different needs and preferences to work at their best and crush their goals. Research different workspace setup options and invest in a system that helps you be your best.
Consider your physical needs, like a specialized office chair, standing
desk, yoga ball, or ergonomic mouse and keyboard. But don’t stop there!
Think about what decor items are most motivating for you and be sure to include them in your space. Some people thrive in a spartan space free of distractions, but others like to have personal items that motivate and inspire.
LEARN YOUR CHRONOTYPE
Achieving big goals means working efficiently and one of the best ways to optimize your workflow is to learn your chronotype. Chronotype identifies your natural sleep/wake rhythm and the times of day when you are most alert and productive.
For instance, a classic “night owl” might naturally sleep later in the morning and be highly alert and productive between eight o’clock and midnight. Observe your behavior on your own, take an online quiz or invest in a fitness tracker that includes the feature to learn what times of day you’re most alert and motivated, then schedule your biggest to-dos for that window. For more information check out the videos on sleepdoctor.com or for
a chronotype-compatible fitness tracker, try the Oura ring.
FIND A BUDDY!
Accountability is key to achieving your goals. Surrounding yourself with a highly motivated friend group is sure to yield results. Or, take it a step further and find one person you trust to be an accountability buddy. Whether it’s a weekly check in to see how those atomic habits are progressing or a monthly coffee to
discuss larger ideas, finding someone to help you stay accountable is proven to increase productivity and help dominate your dreams.
Hadley Roy H. is an Analytics Manager at Campbell Ewald, where she specializes in user experience optimization and creative analytics. She also runs @Just_Had_Tea on
Instagram. Hadley lives with her husband, their 13 houseplants, and two sourdough starters in Southeast Michigan.
