Dispelling the Myth: How to Hit Your Target with Resolutions
There is a common misconception that goals should be grandiose and sweeping in nature, as they tend to sound more interesting.
As of March 2024, eighty percent of New Year’s Resolutions already failed. You will fall into those statistics if you are basing real change on a calendar date. A resolution, priority, or whatever you call your goal needs to have real meaning. It is the “why” that is important to the achievement. Although you might have a heartfelt commitment to change, here are some suggestions to increase the probability of success.
Start with setting defined S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based). A popular resolution is to get healthy. That would not align with being specific if healthy is about losing weight; state that fact clearly by writing it down. Being measurable would be a statement like, “I want to lose 10 lbs.” But it must also be achievable, or you are setting yourself up for instant disappointment. Trying to lose a large amount of weight in one year might be possible, but a monumental task unless broken down into chunks of small successes. Relevant has to do with key priorities. If you want to lose weight but decide to take a pastry cooking class, you might be out of goal alignment. But a key factor in goal setting would be to add timing and dates to your goal. If you want to lose weight, break it down into chunks of time-based measurements. “I want to lose 10 lbs. by the 4th of July,” for example. If you use S.M.A.R.T. goals, you know if you are progressing toward your resolution.
Sometimes, it is not the individual goal at the root cause of failure but the number of goals. Leftover goals from the prior year may have spilled over to the new year. We may even have reviewed our bucket list in the face of the doom and gloom of the 2020 pandemic. In many cases, our list grew with hope for the future year. Unfortunately, increasing the quantity does not allow us to focus on the priorities. If you have more than 8 goals, stop. Get your list and begin ranking your goals by importance. You do not have to toss out the 20 additional goals on your list; just put them aside until your key ones are attained. As coined by Robert Browning’s poem, “Less is more,” let that be your mantra for the year.
Some noble goals, such as “being grateful” or “choosing to have a good day,” might not meet other goals' time requirements. But if you plan on building your dream house, a conscious effort must be made to develop and implement plans. When trying to fit these daunting priorities into your daily routine, it is also recommended to include a list of “don’t dos.” To clear some time to make room for what is really important, intentionally choose things you routinely do that are not necessary. In my case, after almost 20 years in real estate, I made the conscious decision to put my license on hold. Although it was bittersweet, focusing on our consulting practice was necessary. Other less essential items on the list could be eliminating TV time, reducing social media browsing, or delegating routine tasks such as cleaning to a service. Generally, there is not enough time in the day to make room for new goals without removing unneeded or delegatable activities.
Implementing the priorities deemed most important requires monitoring the progress. Even a well-described S.M.A.R.T. goal will stall without the careful watch of the advancement. Moving the flag will not have traction unless the movement is tracked. Listing smaller rocks or tasks and the specific metrics will guide the way toward success. A proven formula is reviewing the rocks every 90 days or quarter with an accountability partner. However, you track your priorities and keep them front and center during your daily routine.
As mentioned, an accountability partner is part of a proven system toward achieving goals, but only a part. Sharing your goals with those people who care about you is a must. Using the example of weight loss, if your significant other does not know your objective, they can unintentionally sabotage the progress. Buying unhealthy snacks and questioning your workout commitment or your dietary changes would all negatively impact accomplishment. But explaining your “why” and “how” to your friends and family who love you will naturally bring support. They will become your accountability partner. As they say, “it takes a village” to raise a child, but that same village can help you keep on track toward your resolution.
So, if you do not want to fall into the statistical trap of 80% failure, use these simple guidelines to sustain the goals you started for the New Year. If you already lapsed into old habits, the good news is you can start any time—no need to wait until next January. If a calendar date is important, use the beginning of the Week, Month, or Quarter. Any time, however, will do if you commit to moving your hypothetical flag toward your most important priority in 2024.
Has your New Year’s Resolution failed? How do you plan on getting back on track?
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