New Year, New You … Or Is It?

It’s that time of year again—you have made or are late to make New Year’s Resolutions. If you’ve been able to stick to resolutions in the past, keep it up! If not, you’re not alone. Research shows that only about 8% of Americans maintain their New Year’s Resolutions for the entire year. With these odds, it is not surprising that the internet is abundant with advice on how to make resolutions and follow through with them. Whether you already have a goal or are starting late, there are many strategies to ensure that your resolution actually sticks. This article will be your guide to help you navigate New Year’s Resolutions from start to finish.

If you believe you are starting late in making a New Year’s Resolution, don’t worry! It’s never too late to start, and starting is the most important part. The first step is to identify areas of your life that you want to improve, like health, school, relationships, personal improvement, and more. The popular consensus is that you need to be as specific as possible. Then, set a distinct and practical goal. SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—are a popular framework. This structure helps create attainable goals and resolutions. For example, instead of having a vague goal such as “I want to be healthier,” a better alternative would be “I will go to the gym three times a week for 30 minutes.” The idea behind being specific is that you focus on creating a more realistic goal than the ideal version of health that would come to mind when you desire “to be healthier.” When ideas like these become too unrealistic, humans tend to give up on the idea entirely, because they know in the back of their minds that they are unlikely to reach that goal. On that note, it is imperative that the goal you set cannot be overwhelming. If it scares you too much, break it down into smaller steps until it becomes something that you can realistically integrate into your daily life. Taking small steps will make it easier to reach the final goal in contrast to never starting at all due to fear. 

If you’ve already made a resolution, consider tweaking it to ensure that it fits the SMART goal framework. When you think about your resolution, you should be able to envision how you will adjust your lifestyle to fulfill it. This would mean having a goal that can be achieved by certain actions that are possible for you to do. You should also consider any obstacles you may face so that you plan how to overcome them. 

Now that you’re happy with your resolution, let’s talk about what you need to do to ensure you maintain it. It is essential that you create habits that align with your goal. By having healthy habits in your day, no matter how small they are, you are consistently working towards fulfilling your resolution. Try to blend these habits into your current life. For example, you can add meditation to your bedtime routine or drink a tall glass of water along with your breakfast. In addition to consistency, accountability is important. Keep yourself accountable by sharing your goals with friends or family who can check in on you to monitor your progress. You can also write them down in a journal and record your progress there. Another alternative is to use apps that help track goals and give consistent reminders. Remember, even if you don’t progress quickly, you will always be ahead of where you were when you first started. Reward yourself when you reach certain milestones within your goal to maintain your motivation.

New Year’s Resolutions are all the rage this time of year, but few people can keep up with their ambitions. By creating SMART goals and the habits that help you reach them, you will have better chances of keeping up with your resolutions all year. Do not forget that goals and resolutions can be made at any time of the year; you don’t have to wait for a new calendar year to better your life. However, using the collective motivation to improve that inevitably comes with the new year can help push you to begin this journey of growth. Good luck!

Sources

Batts, Richard. “Why Most New Year’s Resolutions Fail | Lead Read Today.” Lead Read Today | Fisher College of Business, 2 Feb. 2023, fisher.osu.edu/blogs/leadreadtoday/why-most-new-years-resolutions-fail.

Henderson, Kara Elyse. “Struggling with Your New Year’s Resolutions? There’s Still Hope, Say These Pitt Experts.” University of Pittsburgh, 17 Jan. 2023, www.pitt.edu/pittwire/features-articles/new-years-resolution-tips#:~:text=Both%20Choukas%2DBradley%20and%20Fotuhi,Teen%20and%20Young%20Adult%20Lab. 

“Smart Goals.” Corporate Finance Institute, 19 Nov. 2023, corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/smart-goal/.