The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.
– Bill Copeland
The most talked about and the most quickly forgotten of all the goals we set is the New Year’s Resolutions. They haunt us as we near the end of December, and as the month of January opens upon us, people, wanting something to say, ask you the infamous question:
What is your New Year’s Resolution?
And you cringe. Well, I cringe.
What happens to people who make the same exact resolution every year? They seldom keep them for more than two weeks, and then it’s forgotten until the next count down.
Also consider, you might make a plan, and then life around you crashed, your plan flew out the window. Why not make some lasting changes, so even if life throws hurdles, you’ll be balanced and strong enough to follow through with your goals. Be prepared to succeed.
Let’s think, are the goals we set unrealistic? So far-fetched we spoil our enthusiasm the first time we go for it? Setting the type of goals like this only serves to discourage us from striving for future goals. Instead of planning for success, we’re setting ourselves up for the ultimate crash and burn routine.
When making a resolution or setting a goal follow the S.M.A.R.T. system for maximum success. MindTools.com has some excellent ideas as seen below:
Specific (simple, sensible, significant)
Measurable (meaningful, motivating)
Attainable (agreed, attainable)
Realistic (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
Timely (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” Jim Rohn
Here are some common New Year’s resolutions done in a way, which breeds failure, along with tips about how to turn them around into successful resolutions.
1. Losing weight. How many of us make the resolution to “get in shape” or to simply “lose weight?” This isn’t a specific goal, nor does it contain any sort of measurable timeline in which to perform the task.
- A better solution would be to say, “I want to lose _____ pounds by _____ (date). I will do this by following these steps: (change of diet, exercise plan, etc.).”
- A specific goal establishes what you want to accomplish by what time, identifies requirements and constraints, and lists the benefits of reaching that goal.
2. Spending more time with family. Another common New Year’s resolution is to spend more time with family and friends. Again, you need to have a plan to do this. Simply stating you will spend more time with your family won’t make it happen. This may not even be an attainable goal if you live far away from your family or can’t give up time at the office.
- Look at your schedule, evaluate your priorities, and make the necessary changes to free up the time you’ll need to spend the extra hours with your family.
- Establish exactly how many extra hours you need to make this happen. What will have to be rearranged? These are decisions you need to make to accomplish your goal.
- If you live across the country, plan a yearly trip when the season tickets are lower cost or plan a few smaller trips to stay in touch.
3. Quitting smoking. The average smoker tries to quit at least 4 times before he actually kicks the habit. Why? Because it’s easy to get discouraged when you try one method and it doesn’t work. You need to have numerous back-up plans because one product or method doesn’t work for everyone.
- Make sure the goals you set are realistic. Don’t expect to stop smoking in a week or maybe even a month. You’ll only become disheartened if you fail.
- Set reasonable goals such as, “By ___ (date) I will only smoke ____ cigarettes a day.” Slowly become less dependent on them until you reach your goal.
- Find a support system or surround yourself by people who have kicked the habit. By doing this, you’ll support your goal and find new friends who build you up in the process.
4. Getting out of debt. This is the toughest resolution, which requires much planning and usually involves a change of lifestyle. If you’re living in a cycle of debt, you need to plan a strategy to cut your spending dramatically, as well as pay off the debt you already have.
- Set specific goals such as “I will have ____ (amount) paid off by _____ (date). I will do this by cutting ____ (amount) from my spending each week.” Without a reasonable timeline in place, you’ll slip back into your old habits.
- If your total amount of debt is large, break the debt down into smaller, more attainable goals. Pay off one credit card at a time and take pride when you get that final statement with a zero balance.
- Also consider talking to a financial advisor who can help you set a reasonable plan for you to follow.
- Consider consolidation and then follow through with changing your patterns of spending.
Photo by Kelli Stirrett on Unsplash
Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible. Tony Robbins
Resolutions take work, there’s no denying the fact. Simply saying you resolve to do something is not sufficient without having a plan in place to accomplish the goal.
As you look at the rewording and rephrasing of old resolutions, you can see how failure can be prevented. You’ll need some accountability and motivation. Having a strong support system is a bonus.
However, if you do not have one, you can elicit support from your ancestry: think of all the past family members who overcame obstacles. If you do not have anyone, look at history, and read up on anyone who challenged themselves and moved forward.
When you look at extraordinary lives changes by ordinary choices, you’ll feel empowered to make your resolutions stick. Every year is an opportunity to add new goals, new agendas, new changes to your life. Throw out the old repetitive b.s. which never changes.
Using the S.M.A.R.T. system as a guide, the attainment of your goals will surprise you, your friends, family, and others who walk alongside you. Just wait, in the months to follow through this new year, you’ll become a focused, empowered, and all around better person for the choices you made in using a goal system.
~Just a thought by Pamela
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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