Once that last glass of champagne has been downed, the promises for the new year begin. But, very few are able to follow through with the lofty goals they set for themselves. The problem is that once the fun of setting a resolution is over, the reality of keeping it sets in. Then, as happens every January, this year's resolution gets put back on the shelf from whence it came, where it will wait patiently for New Years Eve 2012 and beyond.
So, why is it that resolutions, so easily made, are so hard to keep? Why do the best of intentions dissolve so quickly into a dream that can't be achieved? It could be a simple as having too big of a goal and not a big enough plan.
Most resolutions are made more as a tradition than something that people plan to keep. Think of it as a time capsule, as people look back over the years on what they have said they would do come January 1st. The sad reality is that most resolutions peter out by the end of the month. The reasons it can be so hard to stick to a resolution could be that most people set goals that are too high, and without a firm plan in place on how to get there.
Make a Successful Resolution
For a resolution to be successful, it has to be achievable, manageable, and come with a plan. No longer is it ok to say, "This is the year I will lose weight." Instead, a successful resolution needs to be, "This year I will lose 20 pounds by joining Weight Watchers and going to the gym at least once a week." This resolution is definable, has a realistic goal, and has specific activities to get there.
Someone who wants to stop smoking could say, "This is the year I will stop." But again, without a plan, that kind of resolution will be hard to keep. Instead, saying "By the end of January I will get a nicotine patch and join a stop smoking group," puts a firm plan in place.
This doesn’t mean that big resolutions cannot be set. Take, for instance, someone who wants to run a marathon, but has never run a day in her life. She can still set a resolution to do it; she just needs to set goals that she can meet. Instead of "I'm going to run a marathon this year," the resolution becomes, "I'm going to get a personal trainer who can teach me how to build up the stamina needed so I can complete a marathon on December 31st.”
Even resolutions that are more general can be made specific. For example, those who say "This year I want to get organized" are setting themselves up for failure. But tweak that resolution just enough to make it, "This February I will make an appointment with a professional organizer" and a resolution that can be kept appears.
New Year's resolutions are a wonderful way to commit to a life changing event and to make the coming year more fulfilling. Figuring out how to stick to those resolutions using specific goals and plans to ensure success can make even the most jaded of the resolution failures feel hopeful.
Kelly Sharp - Kelly Sharp holds a Master's degree in Education and a Bachelor's degree in Communication, and has been involved in training in a variety ...
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