New Year's Resolutions: Did You Do It?

Did you do it? Were you among the many people creating a list of New Year’s resolutions? If you have a tradition of making resolutions and find it useful to support change or create a better you in the coming year, that’s great. Although, many people make resolutions only to have them drop off as a priority in the months ahead either forgotten about or feeling guilty because of their lack of follow through. 

Some of the reasons resolutions may not work for you: The goal you set may be unrealistic or too lofty leading to overwhelm. There may not have been a substantial enough plan to account for setbacks. The resolution could come from an external motivation and not true to who you want to become in this process. The motivation or reasons may not be strong enough to drive a lasting change in your life. Lastly, the resolution was too vague and general not giving yourself a detailed game plan to achieve.

If you want to make a lasting change, goal setting is a great tool for you to use to be successful. 

While some people regard setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) as the most effective way to set goals, there are some other things to consider when setting effective goals. First, take pen and paper, and write your goals down. It makes them real and acts as a good reminder to keep you focused on the vision. Secondly, find someone you can share the goals with to help you be accountable for them. Be selective, make sure it is someone that is supportive but will encourage or push you through setbacks when it gets difficult. The last two things are super important to keep you focused on meeting your goals. Instead of waiting until the end of your timeframe to achieve the goal, set regular check-ins for yourself. This will allow you to identify if something isn’t working or if a different approach may be called for while there is still time. It is also vital to celebrate the progress you have made along the way to meeting your goals. This helps you maintain the momentum and energy needed to keep going when times get difficult working on the goals you have set for yourself.

Remember, this is your life, you get to set the goals to get you where you want to be and there is no one right way to achieve your desired goals. Whether you set New Year’s resolutions on January first, set goals quarterly, or the day you decide to make a change, it is up to you. Don’t let outside influences make you feel it should be one way or another. Happy New Year and enjoy the person you become reaching your goals.