I don't really like the concept of New Year's resolutions. The reality is that if you wait around until January 1st to set goals for yourself, by the time you get there you'll have a long list of often unrealistic resolutions that you won't be likely to keep for very long. Believe me, I know. I used to be a New Year Resolver.
After years of failing to stick to my goals longer than a few weeks, I decided I'd rather set goals and evaluate my progress throughout the year than wait around for January 1st and then pressure myself into setting strict and often unattainable resolutions that fall by the wayside before February rolls around. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for setting realistic goals and choosing a specific start date, so if January 1st just happens to be that start date, so be it. But January 15th, August 22nd, and May 3rd make great start days, too.
Whenever you decide to make your resolutions, take a few minutes to make sure they're goals you'll actually reach. Here are a few tips for making sure your resolutions stick well beyond the Super Bowl.
Be specific. It's easy to make blanket resolutions like "Be healthier," or "Read more," but but without specificity, these goals are either easily attained or forgotten. Be more specific and you'll find you have a better handle on how to stick to your goals and actually reach them. Try something like, "Make three low-fat meals a week," or "Read one book each month."
Choose measurable goals. Once you have a specific goal, make sure it's also measurable. If you can't measure your success you'll never reach your goal, which will make you feel like a failure in the end. So make sure your goal is measurable or has some specific outcome. "Make greener choices every day" is an honorable resolution, but how will you know that you're sticking to your resolution? Try something measurable, like "Reduce my electricity consumption by 2% in 2009."
Make a resolution you want to keep. We often choose resolutions based on what we think we should do. But those resolutions are the ones we rarely keep. How many people out there have "Lose 20 pounds" on their resolution list? While these goals may be good for us, ultimately we're often just not in to them. Why not choose a goal that gets you excited instead? Want to travel more? Make your resolution:"Visit three places I've never been before." Hoping to change careers? Set your goals to: "Update my resume," and "Take a class in ____." If your resolution gets you pumped up, you're much more likely to pursue it and reach your goals.
If you've already made your resolutions, but find they're not specific, measurable, or exciting, don't feel like you have to see them through as they are. After all, January 2nd is just as good a day for setting goals as January 1st.
Ami writes about her attempts to stay healthy, live a local and green life and write that Great American Novel (or something like it) at Writing: My Life.
(Image by adamsofen)
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