Moving Resolutions and How to Achieve Them

Moving gets a bad rap. Sure, it’s stressful, but it’s also an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. Moving simply needs a brand makeover. Let’s call it the new New Year’s. Now we can use our move to make some moving resolutions. This is your chance to become the person you’ve been meaning to be and I have some tools to help you out with that.

Moving is the new New Year’s.

Why Moving is the Perfect Time to Make Changes

Life doesn’t give you too many chances to start over. You’re lucky. You’ve been given the opportunity to break bad habits and form new good ones. One study found that moving to a new place contributed to 36% of successful habit changes. Thirty-six percent! In other words, over one-third of all people who tried to make a change owed their success to moving. You’re already doing that part. Now all you need to do is take advantage of that success rate.

Let’s Do This: Moving Resolutions Chart

To help get you started, you will find a sample chart with my goals filled in and a blank one for you to fill in with your own resolutions on the resources page.

Step 1. Your Dreams and Desires

You’re going to pour your dreams and desires into your Moving Resolutions Chart. Nothing is too silly or unimportant or over the top. Remember, you can be anybody you want to be after you move. The first column shows how you would complete the sentence: “The new me is someone who _____.” Try to finish the sentence in an affirmative way. For example, don’t write “The new me is someone who doesn’t smoke.” Instead, write down: “The new me is someone who chooses gum over cigarettes.”

Step 2. How to Make It Happen

The second section “Making It Happen” helps you create steps to outline how you are going to become that new person. You can see from the Sample Moving Resolutions Chart that I often find two ways to help me achieve my goal. For example, if I plan on getting to work ten minutes earlier, I will (1) get the family’s things together the night before and (2) set my clocks forward so I fake myself out on time. It may not be an ideal solution for you, but it works for me. You do whatever it takes.

Step 3. Setting Manageable Goals

Finally, set small and manageable goals for yourself. I can achieve some of my goals after only one week. While this may not seem like a huge accomplishment, I would be proud of myself. After I check the “Achieved” box, I will print out my chart again and try to achieve my goal the next week and the week after that.

Step 4. Complete and Utter Success (Most of the Time)

Pretty soon my active effort will turn into a good habit. Also, if one week doesn’t work out so well, I can jump right back into trying again since I didn’t break a one-year resolution. I’m only doing a one week commitment at a time. I reset my goal for the next week with renewed determination. If I find myself slipping a couple times, then I re-evaluate and create new steps to achieve my goals so I can be successful. Whereas one or two weeks works well for some of my goals, use whatever time frame works best for your personal goals.

Goal Setting: Excellent Fodder for Cocktail Parties

People who write down their goals are more successful at achieving them.

I’m a big proponent of goal setting and of writing down goals. Studies show that if you write down your goals, you are much more likely to accomplish them. I make daily to-do lists, a weekly goal checklist, New Year’s resolutions charts, and lists of long-term goals. I’m also super fun at cocktail parties. Since this is just between you and me, I figured it’s okay to admit that I love spreadsheets. I know you won’t judge. My charts help me stay organized and achieve my goals, so I’m sharing them with you to help you with your moving resolutions. I hope they help you with your move.