Why I don't set New Year's Resolutions

So many people start out the year setting their New Year’s resolutions but how many actually achieve them? 

According to research only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions.

Why?

Because people think this is the time to make massive resolutions like bucket list items or things that take a full year of focus to achieve.  Then they don’t set themselves up to be successful for this long journey in order to transform an area of their life.

That is why I don’t set New Year’s resolutions. 

Instead, you should set your vision of where you want to be and establish shorter term goals to get you there. 

Here are a few tips I give my clients to setting achievable goals instead of resolutions.

Create short term goals.

Setting shorter-term goals allows you to make realistic and achievable goals that you can stay focused on.  Set a 90-day goal and then set weekly goals and steps that you need to take that will help you get to your 90-day goal.

Then when you’ve achieved your goal you can look at where you are now and what you really want to accomplish next before setting your next set of goals.   

Reevaluate your goals every 30 days to make sure you are staying on track and that they still align with your longer-term vision for your life and career.

Focus on the area in your life that needs the most attention right now.

Try to focus on the most important area for this season of your life.  Do not try to set goals in several different areas of your life all at once.  There is a season in your life for everything.  Sometimes we need to focus more on our careers, other times our health or relationships. 

What you will find is that when you do focus on the most pressing area for you then some of the other areas will start to fall into place automatically.

For instance, if the biggest issue for you right now is a relationship that is causing you stress, pain and you know is not healthy for you then when you set and achieve your goal to establish boundaries in this relationship, break it off if needed or find new loving relationships you will also start to find other areas of your life also improving.  You will probably stop some of the binge eating and being depressed because you are not as stressed anymore and your health will start to improve. 

I was recently working with a client who wanted to focus on her career and what she wanted to do next.  When she started telling me about something else going on in her life it brought her to tears.  She had to first work through what was going on in this one area of her life before she could truly focus on her career.  When she did, she not only felt a release of her fears and anxiety in this area of her life but she also then landed her ideal, dream job!

You need to take some time to sit down and reflect on your life and ask yourself what area needs the most attention right now.  Once you know then focus your biggest goals in this area.

Get inspired by your goal.

Your goals should be something that you really want and will inspire you.

What is it about your goal that will light you up if you achieve it?  What is your why and vision behind achieving it?  How are you going to reward yourself when you achieve it?

Write down your goal as if you’ve already achieved it and include how it has made you feel. Start your goal statement with “I am so happy and grateful now that…”

Read this to yourself every day to get in the mindset and feel the inspiration of achieving the goal. 

Celebrate every accomplishment along the way.

Every day write down 3 accomplishments you had that day no matter how big or small as well as 3 things you are grateful for. 

Go back to those weekly goals you set for yourself and celebrate every step you take to achieving them. 

Keeping an accomplishment and a gratitude journal every day will help to keep you motivated and in the positive mind frame to stay on track to achieving your goals.

Find an accountability partner.

Sharing your goal with someone will increase your chance of accomplishing it.  But going a step further and having an accountability partner can be the difference from having a dream to accomplishing that goal.

An accountability partner will help you to stay focused on your goal and be your biggest cheerleader.  They are also there so that you know that you do not have to do it alone and when we do things with others we feel more connected to the goal and we don’t want to let someone else down.

If you’re ready to start creating your bigger vision and the actionable goals that will help you get there, then join the FREE Vision 2020 Workshop. Just click below for the details and to save your seat.