People tend to get really passionate about New Year's resolutions. It seems like you’re either super enthusiastic about your goals for the upcoming year or vehemently against the whole idea. When these two forces meet it often results in philosophical, motivational speeches countered by the presentation of numerous aggressive Internet memes, at least in my family home.
I’m naturally an optimistic person and often lean towards liking the concept of new years resolutions. I’m all for new beginnings. But I’ve learned a thing or two about goal setting, both from my own experiences and learning from those around me. If you plan to set some New Year's resolutions this year, make sure you take some of these tips into consideration first.
Set solid goals.
My first public relations professor drilled into my head the necessary qualities of an effective objective. Though the formula was created for strategy’s sake while building campaigns, I think the qualities are essential for all the goals we set.
Specific. Take the classic resolution: “I want to loose weight,” or “I want to be healthier.” Neither of these objectives is specific. Loosing one pound and eating a piece of lettuce one day both count as steps in the right direction, but is that really all the progress you want to make? If you don’t specifically state what you want, how are you going to get the results you were expecting? Instead, go for something along the lines of, “I want to be able to curl 15 pound dumbbells in each hand,” or “I want to lose 10 pounds.”
Actionable. Is your resolution so big and general that you don’t even know where to begin? If you know you want to lose 10 pounds, break the journey there into smaller objectives. Try smaller, simpler goals that are actionable: “I want to run one mile today.”
Measurable. Make sure you have some way to measure your progress. How will you know for sure if you’ve reached your goal? If you don’t know how to measure your objective, you need more definition.
Time-based. Set a date to complete your objective by. Would you just write a 10-page paper if the professor never set a deadline? I don’t think I would; I’d have no motivation. Make sure each small, actionable objective has a timeline it needs to be completed by. Doing so will ensure that progress on your resolution will be made past the month of January. Plus, it’ll keep you from getting overwhelmed. You can’t take a big goal on all at once. As American Author Robert Collier writes, “success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.”
Realistic. This part is huge. Be honest and kind to yourself. Do not demand so much change in an objective that you put your body, mind or emotions at risk. Understand your limits. Be patient with what your body is capable of and respect the journey. Don’t try to speed to the resolution finish line, you’ll crash before you make it.
Ask yourself why you started.
A friend of mine who has been vegan for two years now would tell me how hard it originally was to give up animal products. In the heat of the moment, surrounded by wonderful smells and an empty stomach, it was so hard not to jump in and eat a burger. But her commitment to veganism comes from her constant reminding of why she started in the first place. There will be times when you want to give up. In these moments refer to your handwritten list of all the reasons why you started.
Additionally, I also like to constantly educate and immerse myself in topics I’m setting my goals around. So stay up to date through writings, podcasts, movies or whatever platform you choose. Surround yourself with an environment that encourages and fosters your resolutions. It will make all the difference.
Change your mindset.
Do not refer to it as solely as a New Year's resolution. Your goals, especially those involving health and fitness, should not have expiration dates. Make it about a lifestyle change, not a “new year, new me” proclamation. I would suggest not telling everyone about your goals, either. Disclose resolutions to loved ones if you want accountability and support but never gush about your goals to everyone. Let resolutions be quiet components of a personal journey, not gaudy, public proclamations for all to judge and comment on.
