- by Sophie Pinkoski

As January wraps up, it’s natural for resolutions to fall by the wayside. Our best intentions of starting the year right often fade as we fall back into our usual routines. In fact, 25% of people give up on their New Years resolutions within the first week of January. Yet you don’t have to write off these goals if they don’t continue on the first try. After all, resolutions are often about systematically replacing what you want to let go of with what you are striving for; doing away with what no longer serves you. This doesn’t happen overnight. Give yourself grace to set yourself up for success. It’s not just about saying you want to do something; it’s about choosing an actionable path forward to get there. This is no different than building strategic plans to reach your organization’s objectives. You need to adjust with reality along the journey.

You can approach your personal and professional development with a strategic mindset to achieve similar results.

Change takes time and effort. You might resolve to be achieve career goal, or work toward a better work-life balance. These are great targets to aspire toward. Now, how might that look in reality? What does your ideal life look like, having achieved all that? What’s more, what’s something you want to stop doing, something you want to do more of, and something you want to continue? It’s okay to think big. Just remember that ambitious resolutions can be overwhelming and are easier achieved when broken down into smaller pieces. When you can translate a clear multi-step vision into a fulfilling sense of purpose, you become more motivated to move forward with your goals.

Individuals who are more specific and intentional about their resolutions are ten times more likely to pursue improvement and personal growth. 46% of people keep their resolutions 6 months later, with 19% making it the full year. Here are ways you too can incorporate your New Years resolution into your life:

Go in with the right mindset–– The problem many people have with setting and keeping New Years resolutions is that they make the same resolutions every year. When you do this with a resolution you’ve never succeeded with before, you potentially go in with a defeatist attitude, knowing you’re likely to fail. Change it up this year with something you know you can act on.

A resolution should motivate you, not feel like one more burden to add to your plate. Reflect on what you truly want to achieve by the end of the year, then work backwards to identify how you intend to get there.

Embrace the discomfort that comes with personal growth by stepping out of your comfort zone.

More often than not, we choose the easy option because it yields the quickest results. Current Biology has found that we are more likely to repeat pleasing activities we associate with positive experiences. Yet the instant gratification of a short-term fix won’t satisfy you in the long run. This is why it’s important to find positive associations to attach to the new habits you want to make. Finding satisfaction in your daily rituals that accumulate to your larger goals will keep you motivated in the long run.

The big picture vision you have in mind may feel impossible now, but the more you work at it, the closer you come to reaching it.  

Build productive habits–– Resolutions set the direction of your journey. Habits are the vehicle that carry you to your destination. Consistent habits make up your routine. It often takes at least three weeks to get into a rhythm where a new habit becomes second nature within your daily routine. Stamping those habits into your routine will make the work toward your end goal less intimidating and therefore appear far more attainable in your mind’s eye.

When introducing new habits, it helps to start small and work your way up.

Anchor a single new habit to something already well ingrained in your routine. Once that new habit is set, gradually add in any other habits you wish to fold into your daily life. These habits can be as small as you need them to be. If, for instance, your goal is to write a book this year, it may be simplified by easing into a daily writing routine. Giving yourself incremental progress to track builds momentum. Split your annual goal up into smaller pieces: 30-, 60-, and 90-day goals can be a great way to start. Assess what you have achieved within these timelines and adapt your next quarterly goals accordingly.

Track and celebrate your progress–– Reward yourself every step of the way. When you track each milestone, you can better appreciate how far you’ve come. Being able to physically see the progress you’ve made makes long term goals feel less insurmountable. Put a tracker where you can see it, whether it’s digital, on a whiteboard, or in a notebook. Keep it somewhere central where it can be regularly updated and used as a motivator to signal when to move on to the next step. This will also help you assess what’s working and what’s not. If, for instance, you find yourself falling behind on a deadline, reflect on what’s standing in your way and identify ways to overcome those barriers.

You don’t have to give up on a resolution if your initial strategy isn’t working for you.

Experiment with different processes as you go until you find one that feels natural.

Find an accountability partner–– Often resolutions don’t feel real until we say them out loud. Make your commitment official by sharing your intentions so you can celebrate your progress with others. Find someone with similar goals to yours in order to motivate one another. The University of Georgia has found that your behaviours are influenced by the people you surround yourself with. Be intentional about the people you bring into your life and those you spend the most time with. People who complain about the process or procrastinate often fall into a state of complacency. You want to surround yourself with individuals who are equally ambitious and motivated by growth and self-improvement. The University of Zurich also found that imagining how your actions impact others can be equally as motivating.

When people see your drive to move forward, they are inspired to do the same.

By surrounding yourself with similarly goal-oriented people, you build up a support network of individuals who can check in with you and keep you on track. They can give you the external validation you need by reminding you of your capacities and strengths. This will be a life saver when things get hard, and you feel like giving up. Turn to your cheerleaders when you need a confidence boost.

Making goals for yourself is an aspirational first step on the road to personal development. Setting a resolution is just the beginning. It takes actionable plans to set it into motion. By building a flexible incremental strategy for yourself, you can maintain that momentum not just through January, but throughout the year. Be realistic, have a support system on hand, and keep your eye on the big picture so you can put your best foot forward in making your ideal life a reality.

Further Reading:

5 Ways To Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions Based New Research, Forbes

How To Transform New Year’s Resolutions Into Daily Habits, Forbes

How To Actually Keep Your New Year Resolutions, Forbes

How To Make Your New Year’s Resolution Work, Forbes

3 Unusual New Year’s Resolutions That Boost Your Work Performance, Forbes

18 Tips For Achieving Your New Year’s Resolutions, Forbes

Why You Should Make New Years Resolutions at Work, Wavelength- Asana

Replace Your New Year’s Resolutions With Habits To Finally Reach Your Goals, Kimberly Knull

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions, According to Experts, Real Simple