5 Steps to Actually Achieve New Year’s Resolutions

[Vine Abider]

My business partner and I wrote this article for a publication a few years ago, and I thought to share it here . . . because many folks do like to set those beginning of the year resolutions!  However, they can be demotivated and can feel condemned when they loose their drive after a pretty short time, and all their efforts seem to fall flat rather abruptly.  Hope this helps!

Surveys indicate that nearly 100 million Americans will set New Year’s resolutions, both personally and in business.  Often these are thought up hastily, with little deliberation on how they will be accomplished.  A recent study by the University of Washington indicates that confidence, commitment and a good plan are needed to succeed.  So if you are serious about achieving your goals, follow these five steps.

 1. Clearly Define the Goal in Writing.   The top personal goals set in the New Year are: exercise more, lose weight, stop smoking, cut-down on alcohol, eat a healthier diet and make new friends. The top business goals are: make more money, get everyone on the same page, reduce costs, improve efficiency and productivity, and have less stress.  These are admirable goals, but they are not clearly defined. If you start with a fuzzy definition of your goals, your results will likely be fuzzy too!

 Let’s say you want to exercise more, but how much more?  How will it be measured, and how will you know when you have achieved it?  It is hard to accurately measure words like more, better or faster.

 Use the S.M.A.R.T. acronym to define your goals:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relative & Realistic
• Timed & Tangible

 Turn the exercise goal into a S.M.A.R.T. goal by defining how much time you want to exercise, how often, and what kinds of exercise. This will make your goal more specific, measurable and provides a timeframe. In addition to saying, “exercise three times a week for an hour”, think about an end result such as, “Hike Camelback Mountain without stopping by April 1.” This establishes the ultimate goal of the exercise and is more tangible.

 Set yourself up for success; pick a goal and timeframe that is reasonable to achieve. The best goals are “stretch” goals that challenge you and are realistic.

 The goal should also be relative. It should line up with other goals and values.  If the goal is not relative to these, consider what effect its achievement will have on the rest of your life.

2. List the Benefits.  Thinking of benefits helps motivate you. Write down every way you and others will profit from the goal. Don’t just look at surface things, but all advantages to be gained.  The more reasons you have, the better you will be motivated!  Refer to the benefits if you find yourself losing motivation later.

 3. Write the Obstacles & Solutions.   Be honest. If laziness or a tendency to procrastinate is an issue, write that as a possible obstacle. Think of everything that could hinder you.

 Brainstorm solutions for each obstacle. Get the creative juices flowing! If you get stuck, bring in someone else to help you brainstorm ideas.

 4. Develop Action Steps and Measurement.  Ask yourself, “What specific thing can I do this week, tomorrow, or even today, to accomplish this goal in this timeframe?”  Don’t try to do too much at first.  Taking 10 small steps beats just thinking about making a big leap every time!

 List and prioritize the action steps and set target dates for each step. Put the target dates into your calendar. Successful people do this to provide timely reminders.  Remember, what gets scheduled gets done!

 Measure your progress.  Use a simple wall chart or other tools to measure progress, and to provide a visual reminder. 

 5. Build in Accountability & Celebration.  While some people do well with keeping themselves accountable and on track with a goal, most of us can benefit from having others involved.  Ask yourself, “Who else can I inform about this goal?”  Tell them your target dates, and give them permission to ask you about it.

 Lastly, celebrate those accomplishments! Give yourself and others small rewards for reaching milestones rather than waiting until the goal is achieved.  These will encourage everyone and keep it fun. You might think the achievement of the goal is reward enough, but consider savoring it through a celebration with others.

 Follow these five steps and you will accomplish things you may have tried to achieve many times in the past. Have confidence as you take each step, and visualize the goal already accomplished. If you stumble a little, don’t beat yourself up, just remember why you are doing it (benefits) and get back on track!

[Vine Abider]

@Marathoner I see you reacted with an "interesting" emoji . . . not sure what that means.  Keep in mind this was an article written for a secular magazine - whether or not the goal someone sets out to achieve is God honoring or not, is up to them.  (and I recognize that this is just a method for someone to achieve goals they deem desirable, from their own energy . . .)

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

@Marathoner I see you reacted with an "interesting" emoji . . . not sure what that means.  Keep in mind this was an article written for a secular magazine - whether or not the goal someone sets out to achieve is God honoring or not, is up to them.  (and I recognize that this is just a method for someone to achieve goals they deem desirable, from their own energy . . .)

It's not a negative reaction, brother. I found it "interesting" because management here at work uses the "SMART" system in goal-setting. 

[Vine Abider]

3 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

It's not a negative reaction, brother. I found it "interesting" because management here at work uses the "SMART" system in goal-setting. 

OIC. Supposedly our franchise founder invented the SMART goal thing back in the early 70s.

I've enjoyed this business we're in and how it helps people achieve their goals (which can be good, bad or ugly), but of course what ultimately is of any profit is this simply goal: 

"I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Phil 3:14

[walla299]

I stopped making new years resolutions years ago after realizing that Jesus has His own agenda. So I'll just go with that and ignore the whole thing which is much easier than ignoring what sounded like a war breaking out last night with all the illegal fireworks.

 

[Marathoner]

37 minutes ago, walla299 said:

I stopped making new years resolutions years ago after realizing that Jesus has His own agenda. So I'll just go with that and ignore the whole thing which is much easier than ignoring what sounded like a war breaking out last night with all the illegal fireworks.

 

There were guns in the mix over here... a 9mm to be precise. It happened on the opposite side of the street where I live. 

[Marathoner]

49 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

OIC. Supposedly our franchise founder invented the SMART goal thing back in the early 70s.

I've enjoyed this business we're in and how it helps people achieve their goals (which can be good, bad or ugly), but of course what ultimately is of any profit is this simply goal: 

"I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Phil 3:14

Amen. SMART works well as it pertains to work-oriented planning. 

[Neighbor]

As to goals rather than resolutions, I suggest having making goals as a five year program, one that revolves ( updates) on a yearly basis so that there soon becomes  a five year forward goal  plus nearer term goals that are being reached  and/or modified to fit within the five year outlook and plan of action.

As to the very best author of a goals oriented life plan of action I commend as well as recommend  "FINISH FIRST, Winning Changes Everything" By Scott Hamilton. 

 

[Vine Abider]

9 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

As to goals rather than resolutions, I suggest having making goals as a five year program, one that revolves ( updates) on a yearly basis so that there soon becomes  a five year forward goal  plus nearer term goals that are being reached  and/or modified to fit within the five year outlook and plan of action.

As to the very best author of a goals oriented life plan of action I commend as well as recommend  "FINISH FIRST, Winning Changes Everything" By Scott Hamilton. 

 

Indeed!  In the SMART Goals approach, "R" stands for relative.  That is, the goal should be relative to the bigger picture . . . for those of us in Christ, the relative big picture is what's eternal! 

[TheBlade]

I don't think I have ever made any NewYear resolutions. Just focusing on each day lol