We have made it through the first week of 2024. By now, many of us have made resolutions, set intentions, or have a word of the year. But, the statistics on how long we stick with our resolutions is dismal. In fact, this Friday (January 12, 2024) had been dubbed as “Quitter’s Day!” In other words, the second Friday in January is the place where good intentions go to die.
Does this mean that setting goals, or making resolutions is pointless?
New Year’s Resolutions get a really bad rap! This has predisposed us to the fact that resolutions do not work. Yet even with that kind of negativity we still set goals, intentions, or resolutions for the new year. But if we put in the work, can resolutions actually work? My answer is yes! And here are a few tips to help:
Ask Yourself, Have You Gone Overboard?
If you are that person with a list of resolutions as big as a Colorado Fourteener, maybe you need to take another look at that list. If you have decided that in 365 days you are going to get in shape, do a hundred projects around your house, learn a new language, read a hundred books, eat better, get a raise, save $10,000, and on, and on, and on. Then no wonder you’re wavering already. I’m tired just thinking about all that.
Maybe you’re that person who has already given up. You fell off the wagon and decided you have already failed. Your goal was to feel good in a swimsuit this summer but you ate seven pounds of chocolate last week (I may or may not have actually done this). You now tell yourself that the chocolate has won and you’re done!
If it seems like your resolutions are done, and you’ll just start again in 2025, take a step back and realize that you can do this! Start by looking at your list of resolutions to decide which goals are really the most important to you. Then break it down. Think about where you see yourself at the end of the year and reverse engineer it. Once you have done that, take a deep breath, and circle the items on your list that will make you feel the most accomplished at the end of the year. Then, really visualize those goals and make them as specific as possible.
Set Milestones
Begin with one of your goals (it is okay to only have one!). You have now visualized it and made it specific. Next, plot your end goal, your starting point, and then fill everything else in between. Think about the steps along the way that will lead you to success. For example, your original goal may have been to get your home organized. After breaking that down and getting more specific you now have a list of the specific areas of your home that you need to organize. Now, set milestones.
Ask yourself if there is an area that you can finish this week. What can you get done by the end of the month? What can you get done in February? These now become your milestones. And, “cleaning out the junk drawer by Saturday” sounds a lot more doable than “this whole house needs to be organized!”
Write it Down, Look at It Often and Track Your Progress
We are more likely to achieve our resolutions and goals if we write them down. Hard stop! A quick search will tell you that it’s around 42% more likely. But don’t just write them down and forget them…look at them, track how you are doing. Decide where, and how you are going to track your progress. The method is totally up to you. Whether you have an old-school paper journal, use a productivity solution (like Trello, Workflowy, or Todoist), or prefer to use an app that is specific to goal setting and tracking. Click here for a list of apps featured on Lifehack. It has been updated for 2023.
Talk About Your Goal, Get an Accountability Partner
There is power in sharing your goals with others. Talking about our goals makes them feel more real. It also gives others a chance to root for our success, or pick us up when we are not feeling so successful. And don’t just talk about them. Enlist a friend or co-worker to help keep you accountable. Set up a weekly time to discuss, message each other encouragement, but most of all, push each other in a positive way towards your respective goals.
What Happens When You Fall Off Track?
Reality check…we are not perfect. The last few years have taught us how unpredictable life really is. You will have setbacks along the way, and that is really okay. The most important thing is to not quit. The New Year is not the only time to set goals or resolve to do something. There is always tomorrow. Or if you need another official starting point I can give you a bunch…the beginning of the next month, the beginning of summer, the beginning of the school year, the beginning of the holiday season, the beginning of next week. The point is to not quit and wait until next year. Start over as many times as you need to.
Reframe your way of thinking about whether or not you CAN achieve your resolutions. Tell yourself that you WILL!
What are some of the tactics you use for goal setting and accountability? And if you are really brave, share one of your goals for 2024 in the comments below.
Check out my Facebook or Instagram pages for more content to help you live a more organized and productive lifestyle. If you need additional support and want to work together, click here to see current programs. Including, my brand new Group Coaching Program that launches this month.
wow!! 22Resolutions, Intentions, New Habits, and Goals…Oh My!