It’s no surprise: one of the most common complaints is that new year’s resolutions or habits don’t stick. Once the motivation or drive dies down, habits often fail. Ryder Carroll, author of The Bullet Journal Method, sums it up perfectly: they don’t stick because people focus on outcomes. These outcomes usually require years of hard work and discipline. So how can you stick to a habit or resolution without relying solely on discipline?

The answer lies in aligning yourself with a new identity and then focusing on the process over the outcome. James Clear’s Atomic Habits explains this in detail. For example, if your habit is “I should read books,” it’s more likely to fall apart. It requires more willpower to get started, and it takes days, weeks, or even months to complete a book. Instead, align yourself with a new identity: “I am a reader.” That’s the identity and the intention. So, what does a reader do? It’s simple: a reader reads whenever they get the opportunity. It doesn’t matter how much they read per day or how long it takes to complete a book. Suddenly, it becomes much easier to simply focus on the process rather than striving for an outcome. The habit sticks.

This identity-based change has worked for me. It’s the reason I’ve been creating InfoSketches daily, posting blog posts almost every week, creating daily sketches, and learning some amazing new things. Another important callout is to join a community group. I’d say I’m lucky to be part of the SketchNoting community group. The group I’m in is led by Kumar Ahir (@letsketchin) and includes some amazing creators such as Kanupriya, Tina, Ankur, Natasha, Abhi, Anita, Dhruvika, Deepa, and many more. We meet on a weekly basis and sometimes even have local meet-ups. This adds accountability, inspiration, re-initiates motivation, and helps bring consistency.

Ryder has created an amazing four-step plan that I’ve captured in my SketchNote above. Do check out the complete video here.

If you’re tired of resolutions that fizzle out, it’s time to shift your focus from outcomes to identity and process. Start by defining the person you want to become, then take one small, consistent step towards that identity today.

What’s one identity-based habit you’re ready to embrace this week? Share your thoughts in the comments below!