Parenting Pointers: Resolutions You’ll Actually Accomplish

Why are New Year’s resolutions so hard to keep? The answer is definitely multi-faceted but not complicated. One of the biggest culprits of failure is that people set their resolutions up as long term goals, but fail to set short term goals directing them to the end result. Long term goals (lose weight, get promoted, earn X amount of income, be home more for the kids, get ripped, date more...by the end of the next year) are empty and directionless without short term goals.

For your New Year’s resolution to succeed why don’t you try something new? Keep your 12 month goal, but break it up into monthly goals. Go a step further and break it up into weekly and even daily goals. The two most important pieces of the puzzle are having challenging yet attainable short term goals that are clearly defined, and that consistent re-evaluation of your short terms goals and modification as needed.

Jarrett Arthur provides an example of putting this into practice with the theme of safety.

1 Yearly Goal:                       Exist in the world in a safer way by the end of 2014.

 

12 Monthly Goals:               Complete one safety related activity every month such as...

- Take a self-defense class or workshop

- Enroll the kids in a self-defense class or workshop

- Read a personal safety book (“The Gift of Fear” is a great one)

- Toxic waste disposal day for old batteries, paint, medications, etc.

- Put together an emergency preparedness kit for natural disasters

- Write down a fire/intruder escape plan for every room in the house

- Replace one favorite cleaning product with a non-toxic equivalent

 

52 Weekly Goals:                 Learn something new about safety every week, such as...

- Read one article about crime, self-defense, or personal safety

- Watch a short training video online and practice some moves

- Research an important safety conversation topic to have with your kids

- Have that important safety conversation with your kids

 

365 Daily Goals:                   Pick an easy behavior that can quickly become a daily habit, such as...

- Don’t talk on your cell phone as you approach or exit your car or home

- Lock vehicle and exterior house doors as soon as you close them

- Watch your garage door or gate close completely before you drive away

- Don’t hold the door to your apartment complex open for strangers

- Encourage your kids to “walk tall” and pay attention to their surroundings

Jarrett’s passion is helping others transform through self-defense training. One of the highest ranking female Krav Maga black belts in the U.S., Jarrett comes armed with years of teaching experience. She has taught hundreds of men, women, and children over the course of her 10 year teaching career, and has been featured on Ellen, Access Hollywood, Fitness Magazine, New York Times and more.