The Top New Years Resolutions and
How You Can Actually Make Yours Stick
As a coach I'm often asked, "What are the top new years resolutions people make for the new year?" Based on my discussions with clients over the last month, here's what I'm hearing as the top new years resolutions and goals this year: - #1 Lose weight
- #2 Get out of debt/Save more money
- #3 Get organized
- #4 Be more confident
- #5 Become an early riser
- #6 Take more time for myself/Become less stressed/Simplify my life
- #7 Become a better parent, spouse, friend and/or family member
- #8 Make more money
- #9 Get a new/different job
- #10 Stop a behavior (drinking, eating too much, displaying anger, etc.)
Now, when people ask me for the top new years resolutions, I recite the list. Then I say very clearly: The best or top new years resolutions for you
are the ones you actually keep! Too many of of us make new year's resolutions, strive valiantly for a few days or weeks, and then quit. And then wonder in March what our resolution actually was! (I always notice how my gym is packed for the first three weeks of January. Then, it goes back to normal by mid-February.) So, how do you keep your new year's resolutions? How do you turn a positive intention set at a cocktail party into actual behavior change? Here's how: Get clear about what worked and didn't from last year, get clear about your values and priorities, and use these insights to set goals and identify support and resources you'll need to stay on track. The whole process is actually much easier than it sounds: you can do the whole thing in 30 minutes if you follow these quick steps.
Quick Preparation To get started, you'll need to carve out at least 30-minutes of quiet time away where you can focus and think clearly. Get a journal or piece of paper and something to write with. We're going to think on paper. People who write their goals down are exponentially more likely to actually achieve them.
Relax Before you begin, take a few minutes to relax. If you have a practice you enjoy - such as yoga, meditation, or exercise - then do that to help you relax. If not, try just sitting there and do nothing for a few minutes. Yep, just "take your hands off the steering wheel" and just breathe quietly for a few minutes. (Note: If you're having trouble relaxing, just keep going. Move on to the reflection questions anyway.)
Reflect on Last Year and Gather Your Insights As you relax and focus, ask yourself the following questions to reflect on the past year: -
What were the high points of this year? How did I bring them about? What lessons can I take from them? -
What were low points of this year? How did I bring them about? What lessons can I take from them? -
Did I meet my goals from the previous year? What led to meeting or not meeting them? What can I learn from this? -
In what ways did I grow throughout this year? What skills, abilities, knowledge, characteristics, or values did I grow in this year? If there were a theme or a slogan that captured this year, what is? -
If there were an image or metaphor that describes this year, what would it be? (Riding a bike downhill, swimming upstream, Atlas holding the world up, lost in a forest, earthquake, rebirth, top of the mountain, etc. . .use your imagination.) Use these questions to guide your reflection over the year; don't dwell here, but do spend enough time to gather your key insights and learnings to take forward into the future.
For Next Year, Identify Your Highest Values and Then Set Goals Don't jump into making a list of goals quite yet. Many people do that, yet they simply select a list of goals that are actually out of alignment with their priorities. Here's what I mean: sometimes people say, I'm going to get fit by running a marathon. As they train for their marathon, they actually spend less and less time with their family - their top priority. This then might cause a new problem. So, before setting goals, spend some time with these questions: Focus on priorities. What do I really really value? What's most important to me? Based on those priorities, where do I want to be in 5 years? -
Based on those priorities, where do I want to be in 1 year? What goals, if I chose them, would make the largest positive impact in my life? -
What goals would make something of me to achieve them? What would wild success look like? Select 3-4 goals, no more. And write them down! Then, for each goal clarify the following: - Measures of Success (how you know you're successful)
- Milestone and Interim Goals
- Resources You'll Need (money, time, people)
- Support You'll Need Along the Way (friend, colleague, coach, etc)
- Measurement Plan (How you'll measure it along the way and at the end.)
A note about measurement. As management thinker Peter Drucker says, "What gets measured gets managed." Without measurement, you'll likely get off track and perhaps forget about the goal. Strive to measure your progress daily or at least weekly. The feedback will help you stay on track. The final step is to take action. As you do so, use the rest of the resources on this site to turn your top new years resolutions into lasting, sustainable new changes in your life. I hope this you've found this article on top new years resolutions helpful. Good luck ! Cheers,
Adam
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