It’s that time of year again… time to make some New Year’s Resolutions. Or not. Since New Year’s Resolutions typically have about an 8% success rate, many view this act as setting the stage for failure. Therefore the New Year’s Resolution gets a bad rap, and many choose to avoid the disappointment of failure and opt out of making these resolutions. This year I propose a new solution for the resolution -- the solution is NOT to succumb to failure but rather to commit to success!
The typical process for making a resolution involves three steps. First we evaluate where we are at the present moment. This evaluation can include many different aspects of our lives such as health (weight, exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, stress), financial (saving money, getting rid of debt), career (advancing in a career, switching career paths, going back to school), family (staying in touch with others, improving relationships with some), travel, community service, and the list goes on.
Once we evaluate the current situation, we think about where we want to be. Maybe you want to lose 20 pounds. Maybe you want to save more money. Maybe you want to get out of debt. Maybe you want to earn a higher degree of education. As you are deciding where you want to be, make sure this is realistic and attainable.
Finally, based on the evaluation and the projection of where we want to be, we set some goals and commit to the resolution. And that’s where it ends. We might think about the resolution during the first weeks of January, and some might even act on the resolution in those weeks. But by the time February rolls around, it’s safe to say that most have forgotten about the resolution.
Here’s the problem -- one step is missing from the process! The plan! How am I going to lose 20 pounds? What am I going to do to my current financial situation to eliminate my debt? What do I need to do to earn a new degree of education?
The plan is committing a workout program and exercising 5 days per week. The plan is meeting with a financial adviser to work toward eliminating debt. The plan is researching schools and exploring higher education degrees is a plan. Devise the plan. Maybe set a few smaller goals to achieve along the way to the larger goal. Stick to the plan. Evaluate progress each month. This is important! The goal/resolution needs to be measurable. Make adjustments to the plan (or possibly to the resolution) as needed.
Once you have a plan in place and regularly check in on your progress, you have committed to success. Make 2017 the year that you work toward the solution to the resolution and feel good about your accomplishments next December.