Making Your Resolutions Work For You

According to a survey released last month*, 66% of Americans don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. This flies in the face of the tradition of the season, and begs the question: Why?

For many people, this “resolution rejection” comes from a sense of failure. “I made resolutions in the past, I didn’t stick with them, and I wound up feeling lousy.” We feel let down (we let ourselves down), we experience a power-drain as we grapple with our lack of follow-through, and guilt sets in. And we think, “Forget it. I don’t need this kind of grief.”

And if this is you, you’re right. You don’t.

When people don’t follow through on their New Year’s Resolutions, it usually has its roots in one or more of these three areas:

• Choosing goals that aren’t meaningful and don’t have enough of a payoff
  
• Choosing goals/actions that are too big
  
• Not having a plan
  

To succeed with your New Year’s Resolutions, simply turn these three areas into principles that will work for you:

• Make it Meaningful: there are many things you can change. Choose one that will have a big payoff for you. Think: “Next year at this time, what is one way I would like my life to be different?” Choose something important, something that really matters to you
  
• Think Small: either give yourself a small goal, or if it’s a larger goal, break it down into manageable pieces, and focus only on the first piece
  
• Schedule It: to create a plan, keep it simple. Just put it on the calendar. By “it” I’m referring to whatever the first few actions are that will move you toward your goal. This works for just about anything: working out, getting organized, keeping up with people better, writing a screenplay, learning a language, spending more time with your kids…
  

You may not choose to “resolve” anything this New Year. And you may have good reason. Simply remember that growth and movement is critical for us as human beings. The lack of those more often that not leads to stagnation and feeling stuck. For our health and vitality, we need to embrace intentional growth and forward movement. And of course, you can do it at any time of year, not just at New Year’s. Whenever you do choose to put something in motion for yourself, keep it simple. Set yourself up for success by making it meaningful, “thinking small,” and scheduling it.

* Survey by ISI Translation Services