Never Set a New Year’s Resolution

Why should you never set a New Year’s resolution? Primarily because resolutions are an all-or-nothing proposition or vague and unfocused. Stop eating junk food. Get in shape. Lose weight. 

Consequently, 92% of New Year’s resolutions fail! Weary of low self-esteem after experiencing failure after failure, I finally gave up on New Year’s resolutions. Why not consider an alternative to New Year’s resolutions this year?

Do something different – set goals

Techniques for goal setting

• Be specific 
• Narrow your focus
• Move out of your comfort zone
• Make a plan and track your progress
• Engage community

Be specific

Be specific about what you want to change and make it exciting. A goal is something you truly wish for yourself, not what someone else wants you to do or what you think you should do. In addition, set an end date for the goal. For example, instead of I want to get in shape, say I will exercise 30 minutes a day three days a week by March 31.

Narrow your focus

Avoid being overwhelmed. Concentrate on 2 or 3 goals at a time. Trying to make too many changes at once can lead to failure and discouragement.

Move out of your comfort zone

Michael Hyatt, New York Times best-selling author and leadership mentor, describes three zones of goal-pursuit: the comfort zone, the discomfort zone, and the delusional zone.

The comfort zone does not challenge you, whereas the discomfort zone challenges you, but is still attainable. The delusional zone is when there is no way you can meet the goal.

Aim for your discomfort zone for the best results and positive change, despite the fear, doubt, and uncertainty in this zone.

Make a plan and track your progress

Write it down! Put it on paper, on your phone or on your calendar. In addition, set milestones to accomplish your goals. Check them off when completed and celebrate your success. Completing milestone tasks gives a sense of accomplishment. 

For example, here are some sample milestones if you are not exercising at all and your goal is to exercise 30 minutes a day, three days a week, by March 31:

• Download a free fitness app to track my exercise plan
• Buy some good athletic shoes
• Walk for 20 minutes a day on my lunch hour twice a week
• Find a walking group in my neighborhood to walk with on Saturday mornings
• Join a gym near my home or on the way home from work
• Try a new exercise class

Plan to adjust your goals as you go along. Goals, unlike New Year’s resolutions, can change with time. Therefore, set new goals or change existing ones.

If you don’t meet your milestones, then reassess and don’t get discouraged. Keep moving forward and don’t give up!

Change does not happen overnight.

Small steps over time bring sizable results.

Engage community

This step is critical to goal achievement success. In his Bible-based healthy lifestyle program The Daniel Plan, Pastor Rick Warren calls friends “the secret sauce” to healthy living according to God’s Word.

The Bible says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT, Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT).

In addition, consider the successes of Weight Watchers™, Alcoholics Anonymous, smoking cessation programs and life and health coaching.

Tell at least one person about your goal. Find an accountability partner to encourage and motivate you. Or find a group of people who will help you meet your goals and will celebrate your successes with you.

Conclusion

It’s never too late to plan your best year, full of possibilities for positive change. Choose to be successful by setting goals instead of New Year’s resolutions.

New Year’s resolutions are vague, all or nothing, unplanned and isolating. Goals are specific, focused, attainable, planned, tracked and done in a community. Give it a try!