They are created impulsively.
They are vague.
They are unplanned.
They are too big.
They are ultimately unimportant to you.
Many goals start off in such a fashion. Our pursuit of them works for a short while because we’re still in the ‘This year is a new me!’ stage. We have vast amounts of motivation because we now write 2014 instead of 2013.
After all, that was the push we needed to pursue the change we want. A change of date.
When we make new resolutions on new years, we attempt to change almost instantly. If you’ve been eating bad food for years, why would it be easy for you to change your mindset towards food in a day? If you spend all your days sitting down, why would it be easy to start a rigorous exercise regime after a New Years party?
We move far too quickly with no real direction when we attempt to complete our new years resolutions. It’s why the gym is packed to the brim in January but quickly empties during February. They’ve probably told everyone about their new goals which leads them to feeling slightly accomplished about their goals (even if they’ve done very little). No one will ask for a follow up on their friend’s progress because they have better things to do. Then they’ll look back on the statement they made at the beginning of January and realise they haven’t stepped into the gym for over 6 months.
How do you stop that from happening this year?
Making valuable progress towards your goal
This is probably the most important thing you can do if you want to make progress. It makes it much more difficult for you avoid and much easier to make steady progress towards a goal. Focusing on one goal is much better than making a weak effort towards five foals.
2. Focus on a routine rather than the goal
This emphasises consistency. Working on building a reliable routine more than you do a goal means you’re more likely to work towards it steadily throughout the year instead of making random bursts of effort towards it.
If you want to improve your writing over the next year, make sure your routine involves writing regularly (if not everyday). If you want to lose weight (or gain muscle), make sure your routine involves going to the gym at least 4 times a week.
3. Make your goals specific
No more ‘I want to be happy’ or ‘I want to be a better person’. If you want to improve your grades in school, say what grades and by how much. If you want to lose weight, say how much and how you’ll do it.
A new year is not the reason why you’ll become a better person. You are. You shouldn’t depend on motivation throughout the whole year because it burns out quickly.
Start small, remain consistent and that’s the way we make progress.
Here are a few similar articles on the topic:
- Why New Year Resolutions fail by February. (grapeseed45.wordpress.com)
- Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work (and What You Can Do About It) (amusingmusingsblog.wordpress.com)
- Let’s Make Our New Year’s Resolutions More Achievable! (woodenitbeamazing.com)
Are you keeping any resolutions for the new year?
Improving Slowly 
Reblogged this on No room for regrets.