Christmas has ended and the new year is here. The new year can symbolize a new beginning. For this reason many people create new year’s resolutions. It gives them a focus for the year. Unfortunately, most people, including me, rarely complete the goal. Let’s discuss some ways to create a new year’s resolution that we can finish.
Rules to Create New Year’s Resolutions
Fewer Goals
First, make only a few goals. People create lots of goals, which looks overwhelming. I suggest narrowing it down to only a few important goals. Instead of twenty goals, try focusing on three. Having fewer goals looks more manageable. Plus, by narrowing down the list you will choose the goals most important to you. That helps keep up the desire to complete the goal.
Measurable Goals
Second, have an actual measurable goal. How do you know if you’ve accomplished the goal if you don’t have an ending? While continuing to improve is great, we still need to at least know when we’ve accomplished something. I find it difficult to keep going with no end in sight.
Manageable Goals
Third, keep it manageable. Don’t make a goal that feels so out of reach it becomes impossible to contemplate. Keep the goal at a level that looks doable. You want to keep up motivation, so keep an end in view by making manageable goals. Before you know it, you’ll have accomplished the impossible.
Accountability
Finally, be accountable to someone. Most people hate to tell others when they fail. Having someone that you tell about your progress does two things. One it keeps you going so you don’t have to admit failure. Two, you can see your progress and receive encouragement.
New Year’s Resolutions Example
Narrowing the Goals
Now that we have the basic rules for creating new year’s resolutions, let’s put it to action. For time’s sake, I’m not going to list a bunch of goals and narrow it down. I recommend writing down all you wish to accomplish in the new year. From there, narrow it down to the ones that you most desire to see done. For this example, I’m going to use a popular new year’s resolutions, losing weight.
Make it Measurable
After we narrow it down, we want to make the goal measurable. I will be the guinea pig, as I have one goal I’m working on right now. I weighed 214 pounds. At 5 feet and 2 inches, my weight is too high. I have the goal to lose weight, specifically 80 pounds. I now have a measurable goal.
Make it Manageable
Next, we need to make it manageable. 80 pounds feels almost impossible. If I lose weight healthily I will not lose a lot at one time. It becomes monotonous and boring, and I don’t want to continue, long before I have even reached my goal. To combat this feeling, I narrow down my measurable goal even further. Instead of a straight 80 pounds to lose, I say I will lose 5 pounds a month. That feels more doable.
Find Someone to Help with Accountability
Finally, finding someone to show accountability. I recommend finding someone you respect. Depending on what works best for you, find someone that will show more encouragement on days of struggle or someone that knows how to start you back on your goal. For me, my wonderful nutritionist volunteered as my accountability friend. Each night I send her a report of how I ate. On bad days she encourages me and on good days she praises me. Plus I respect and admire her greatly so I don’t want to let her down.
Doing these things will help you set new year’s resolutions that can be accomplished. I started my goal of losing 80 pounds in July. In six months, I have lost 30 pounds, about five pounds a month. I am notoriously bad at finishing goals, but together we can create and accomplish this next year’s goals.
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