The key to a happy life is developing habits that promote health and wellness, says investor and entrepreneur Jack Mason, founder and Group CEO of Inc. & Co. New Year’s Resolutions are all about forming healthy habits, but unfortunately, Mason notes, they are easier to set than to stick to. According to research from the Statistic Brain Institute on New Year’s resolutions, over 42% of people fail to accomplish their resolutions each year. The pressure and focus around January 1st as some magical initiation date for good habit-forming is part of the problem, Mason says.
Jack Mason has relied on many of the skills needed to form good habits to build his successful business supporting tech companies. They include skills like resiliency, determination, organisation, consistency and a growth mindset. The very notion of waiting until January 1st to take steps toward healthy goals, Mason says, is problematic. Instead, he says that the best way to form habits that stick is to begin them immediately. Start in December and begin taking concrete steps away from the pressure and intensity of January 1st, he believes this will set you on a course for a positive and healthy new year.
Below are Jack Mason’s 5 tips for getting resolutions to stick before the New Year:
1. Set a realistic goal.
Whether it’s to lose weight, get into shape, begin a new project or learn a new skill, entrepreneur Jack Mason says you should choose a goal that is achievable and aligns with your personal interests. In other words, if you absolutely hate running, he says, don’t commit to running a marathon. Chances are, your dislike of the activity is going to override your desire to reach your goal fairly early in the process. Instead, if your goal is to get healthier, he says that you should look at what you enjoy — is it class-based workouts with a social component? Is it getting outdoors or listening to great music? Is it being part of a sports team? Identify something that’s personally meaningful and that you will enjoy and you’re more likely to stick with it.
2. Build your toolkit.
Once you’ve chosen your goal, do some research to familiarise yourself with tips and information from others with expertise. If you’ve decided you want to lose weight, for instance, what will your approach be? Find a nutritional and exercise regimen that speaks to you and set the goals you want to achieve. Are you looking to cut back on alcohol or dairy? To drink more water? To eat a more plant-based diet? Talk to friends and ask their advice. Determine if there are tools or equipment you will need to make it possible to reach your goal. According to Jack Mason, those can be healthy recipes, a blender, a water bottle, reusable containers, online groups dedicated to healthy eating and sharing experiences.
3. Make a plan — today.
The biggest hurdles when it comes to resolutions, says Jack Mason, is getting started and sticking with it. Remember, he says, it takes 21 days of being mentally committed for a healthy habit to stick. The best way to ensure that you will remain on track, says Mason, is to have a solid, actionable plan in place. First, he says, set smaller milestones that you plan to achieve on your path to reaching your goal. Next, figure out the steps to reach those milestones and enter them into your calendar. Will you be preparing meals in advance for eating healthy during the week? Schedule in days and times when you will shop for groceries and prep meals. Committing to drinking a certain amount of water each day? Find a reusable water bottle that can hold your daily water goal and plan to keep it handy. Looking to develop a new fitness routine? Decide where and when you’ll be taking classes, schedule it into your calendar, and set your alarm. Big goals are great, says Mason, but they require smaller, concrete, consistent steps to get there.
4. Track your progress and hold yourself accountable.
As Jack Mason knows from working with digital startup brands, there are lots of digital tools that can help you track your progress and better commit to your goals, step by step. There are a large number of fitness and nutrition apps that can help you track calories in and out, provide suggestions for healthier food alternatives and keep track of progress when it comes to walking, running, biking, or swimming. These apps allow you to see how your pace has improved, compare your daily and monthly stats and see how you measure up against others. Strava is ideal for tracking walking, running, swimming, and biking. It syncs with your smartwatch and allows you to follow and comment on others. The My Fitness Pal app will help keep your eating habits in check, breaking down meals, allowing you to scan barcodes and log workouts.
5. Celebrate your wins.
It’s important to keep track of your progress using an app or even a pen-and-paper journal. But it’s just as important, says Jack Mason, to share your progress with loved ones. Post updates on social media, talk about what you are doing and how you are getting there, follow friends and family on apps like Strava so you can give virtual high-fives and comments to others’ workouts and receive feedback. Pose for before and after photos and “I did it!” pictures. By celebrating your victories, Jack Mason says, you have an opportunity to really enjoy the fruits of this accomplishment and to inspire others to do the same.
About Jack Mason
Jack Mason is a business investor and entrepreneur. He founded Inc. & Co Group in 2019 with a singular mission in mind: to acquire ambitious digital businesses and give them a new lease of life. As Founder and Group CEO, he oversees the strategic direction of the business, including acquisitions and business strategies across all sectors. Inc & Co is redefining business organisation, growth and collaboration by bringing companies into a creative collective to make them more effective, efficient, profitable and empower them to deliver a dynamic portfolio of services to clients. In March 2020, Jack Mason launched incspaces, which offers exceptional office properties in London, Leeds, Manchester, and other cities.
