Well, we are a quarter of the way into the new year, and are you still thinking about your New Year’s Resolution or have they become a forgotten dream. Every year, I set goals or New Year’s Resolution of sorts for myself just like many of you do, but how many of us actually follow through with them?
What’s the premise behind a New Year’s Resolution anyway? Throughout history, it has been to resolve to improve bad behavior, continue good habits, and set goals to accomplish projects within the year. The Babylonians, Romans, and other religious groups have all rallied around this idea for centuries. I think it might be human nature to want to improve ourselves. But why is it so hard to accomplish this task?
According to a 2014 study, 35% of people who set New Year’s Resolutions failed because their goals were unrealistic. 33% said they didn’t keep track of their progress and 23% said they forgot about them all together and 1 in 10 polled said they had to many goals. If so many of us aim to set goals every year to improve ourselves, how can we actually accomplish this goal?
I don’t think it is always necessary to set lofty goals every year (although if you have one, by all means get after it). We might have projects or changes we would like to work on. Make a list of a few items that are of importance to you is a great idea. The key is to be realistic and then place them where you will actually review them during the year. A goal we never revisit cannot ever be reached intentionally.
What I have found to be super helpful in successfully reaching goals throughout the year is to make smaller lists each month. I break my lists down into personal and professional goals. You may organize your differently; the key is to make it your own. Each month I come up with things that I would like to accomplish specifically in that month. Some might be as simple as “clean the pantry,” but others might be smaller steps that can be taken in order to start reaching one of my larger goals for the year. If we take our larger goals and break them down into smaller steps throughout the year, then we are more likely to succeed.
Once I complete an item on my list, I check it off which is very empowering. It boosts confidence and creates energy to continue onto the next item. Make sure to keep your list as attainable as possible. If you create a list of 30 items for the month, I will tell you right now, you are setting yourself up for failure. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t complete everything on your list for the month. Life does happen and sometimes other things need our attention more. Whenever I fail to complete all my tasks for the month, I simply transfer the remaining to my list for the next month. I don’t let myself off the hook; I make it a priority for the next month.
By reassessing each month your accomplishments and future goals, you are taking a proactive approach to reaching your New Year’s Resolution. As the year ticks along, you will have a sense of pride for what you have completed. Your life will be improved in all sorts of ways besides being one of the few who has kept your resolutions.
So, if you didn’t set any goals at the beginning of the year or you already forgot them, try again right now and incorporate some of these hints and see if you can’t conquer a few goals this year. All the power to you!