New Year Resolutions: how to achieve your goals
Setting New Year Resolutions is a popular activity. As we inch our way towards the end of the year and the New Year begins to rear it’s head, we all feel that familiar pull to set our own goals.
While it might sound pessimistic, few people actually achieve their New Year goals. By some estimates, as few as 8% of people who make New Year goals actually stick to them. (Source)
Why do people fail to achieve their goals?
There can be many reasons why people fail to stick to their New Year Resolutions. More often than not, however, the reason why goals fail is because the people setting them have shot themselves in the foot from the outset.
Whether it’s the type of goal or the action plan (or lack thereof) around it, knowing how to set realistic and achievable resolutions is half the battle (figuratively).
Before we dive into how to set realistic New Years Resolutions, let’s take a minute to ask an integral question.
Why should we set goals?
Top achievers all set goals, and everyone from therapists to life coaches recommend using and setting goals. Why?
1. Vision and motivation
Goals allow you to simultaneously focus on your long-term vision and engage in continuous short-term motivation.
2. Organisation
Resolutions and goal setting can help you organise your resources around achieving your goal, including time and energy!
3. Stay on track
A well formulated goal can help keep you on track by breaking down the actions, milestones, timeline and measuring of your goals’ progress.
4. Pride
Setting goals allows you to experience great pride when you achieve them or even when you make steady, incremental progress towards them.
5. Focus
Whether you write your New Years Resolution on a post it note and stick it to your bathroom mirror or just keep it top of mind, having a clear goal gives you clear focus.
6. Preparation
Preparation is the key to success. Setting a goal to orientate your efforts is a vital part of that preparation.
How to set realistic goals
4 Steps for Setting New Years Resolutions
Step 1 – Consider what you want to achieve
While obvious, it is important to consider what you’re looking to achieve. Are you wanting to make a resolution regarding your career, fitness and health, or skillset?
Achievements can take on many different shapes but your goal needs to be oriented around what you’re trying to achieve. “Being fitter” isn’t a goal. “Running a half marathon” is a goal.
Step 2 – Set smaller goals to help you reach your resolution
Setting smaller goals that act as stepping stones towards your ultimate goal is an excellent way to break down the individual actions and milestones needed. It will also keep you on track and motivated as you can track your progress.
Step 3 – Setting timelines
It’s a good idea to attach timelines to your goals as well. For example, you might want to mark your journey towards running a marathon by the middle of the year by achieving smaller distance running milestones each month in the lead up.
Step 4 – Determine your measurements
Your goal needs to be trackable and measurable. For some goals, like the marathon example above, it’s obvious as to how you’re going to track it. For other goals, you might need to give some consideration to what sort of measurements are best suited.
Tips and tricks for setting New Years Resolutions
Choose SMART goals
Your New Years Resolution should be both smart and SMART. SMART is a handy acronym to help you choose realistic goals.
S – Specific goals: The more specific the goal the better.
M – Measurable goals: Your resolution must be measurable and not just ‘theoretical’.
A – Achievable goals: If your goal is unattainable, you are setting yourself up for failure from the beginning.
R – Relevant/realistic goals: If your resolutions are not relevant to the achievement or area of improvement you’re aiming for, you should reassess the goal.
T – Time-sensitive: Without a deadline or timeline, there’s little ability to hold yourself accountable and measure your progress towards success.
Be positive
Being positive is important for achieving goals. And the resolution itself should reflect this. Phrase your New Years Resolution in a positive way: “To get fit enough to run a half marathon” rather than “Be less fat so I can run a marathon”.
Be meticulous
Being as precise as possible is an excellent way to make your first step your best step. Precise goals, meticulous date, time and progress recording will help you stick to your resolution and enjoy the positive feelings as you achieve more and more.
Prioritise
We all have competing priorities in our life, and even several goals as well. To help you focus and utilise your time and energy wisely, prioritise your different goals and the actions required to achieve those goals. You’ll also find that this prevents you becoming overwhelmed.
Write it down
Writing down your goals is a simple and very practical tip. Not only does the act of writing help to ingrain the message into your consciousness but it’s a great psychological tool for motivation as it crystallizes your intent as well.
Keep it in your control
Keep your goals in your control by focusing on the performance aspects and not the outcomes themselves. Sometimes, outcomes cannot be controlled and factors that you have no say over derail plans. If your achievements are tied to your performance and effort, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.
Know your resources
Setting goals to climb to the top of Mount Everest when you have no means to get there is not the right New Years Resolution. Think about your resources when determining what you’re aiming to achieve.
Some items to help get you started:
- Time
- Information
- Training needed
- Budget
- Support
- Personal limitations
- External factors or obstacles
Do your research
Some resolutions may not need much research but if your goal is technical or requires a level of expertise, make sure you familiarise yourself with all the research you need.
Reassess and readjust
Don’t be afraid to reassess and readjust your goals. If factors or the situation changes, you may need to adapt accordingly. Nothing is set in stone!
Share your goals
Sharing your goals will help motivate you by keeping you accountable to others (or social media) and encourage your friends and family to support you.
Reward yourself!
It’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey! So, reward yourself as you make progress towards your goal. Keep motivated, keep enjoying your progress and keep it up!
Good luck with your New Years Resolutions
From all the team here at One Central Health, good luck with your New Years Resolutions and we hope the New Year is everything you hope it will be and more!
