Even just a few days into the new year, many people are already realizing that New Year’s resolutions are great in theory. Often made with the fresh determination that comes with the start of a new calendar year, it’s easy to resolve to BE and DO better in specific areas of life that matter. We often reflect on our big priorities and set lofty goals for our bigger FUTURES about which we plan to be resolute. Yet, after just months or weeks, and for some resolutions, even after only a few days, many people abandon many of these meaningful resolutions. The year is just a dozen days old and already some resolutions have been broken. Why?
RESOLUTIONS ARE BIG DEALS!
It’s not in the timing of the resolutions that often sets us up for resolution failure. Nor does it stem from the resolutions themselves. Most resolutions are quite worthy of achieving. Take a look at this list from various top resolutions lists and you’ll quickly notice, each of these top 12 resolutions are REALLY BIG.
Enjoy life to the fullest
Lose weight and get fit through a healthier lifestyle
Spend more time with family and friends
Save more money, spend less money
Pay down or get out of debt
Quit smoking, drinking, other bad habits
Learn something new and different
Travel to new and exciting places
Be less stressed
Volunteer
Get organized
Fall in love, meet their soul mate
Are any of these resolutions on your list? Resolutions by their very nature are big undertakings. As a result, resolutions can be tough to parse into simple actionable items. To be achieved, even big resolutions need to be integrated into whatever you need to get done next Thursday, as it were. Just how does your to-do list for the coming week incorporate a potential desire to enjoy life to the fullest while spending more time with family and friends, learning something new in an exotic new place where you can lose weight, pay down your debt, reduce your stress and volunteer, all while being totally organized? With resolutions of this scale, of course many of us will abandon ship. As these top 12 resolutions show, it’s easy to make grand resolutions. As our track records show, it’s just as easy to consistently fall extremely short of our lofty goals when it comes time to actually implement them.
Two Reasons Why Resolutions Erode
Two factors enter into resolution erosion. First, we tend to set ourselves up with too many different big resolutions at once. Often, people realize greater success by thinking of resolutions as one would think of adding ingredients into a cake batter, one at a time. When it comes to adding the biggest ingredient, the flour, the batter has fewer lumps when you fold in flour gradually. Tackle one resolution at a time, working to master one resolution before moving onto the next. Even if your resolutions are pint-sized compared to these MEGAlutions, trying to accomplish even smaller multiple resolutions at once can be too much for a lot of us.
The second reason resolutions erode so quickly is not about WHEN we decide to work on them. It’s also not about WHAT the resolutions themselves may be about; if it matters to you, it is a worthwhile resolution. The second reason resolutions erode is because of HOW we tackle them. Would you ever attempt to eat an entire pizza in one bite? Hardly. Big goals need to be parsed into smaller, doable steps. By slicing big resolutions into smaller pieces, many of us will do a better job of integrating big goals into day-to-day life. Even smaller slices need to be actionable. For example, if you want to live a healthier life in 2020, many smaller actionable steps need to be part of this resolution, from cleaning out your pantry to replacing your running shoes.
365 Slices Mean 365 Fresh Starts
Using an approach like 365 Slices can help. 365 Slices is where you consider each new day a clean slate. Even when the day’s actions are a total bust when compared to longer-term goals, to quote Scarlett O’Hara, “Tomorrow is another day.”
It’s even more helpful to reaching your goals when your every-day actions and choices that fill our to-do lists align directly to your big priorities, the resolutions that matter most. Connecting the dots between the resolution (WHAT) and its implementation (HOW) helps you to achieve more. When you take even one action each day that brings you closer to the resolution you’re focusing on, you make actionable progress.
Each day, work to include even just one action that aligns to one of your big priorities for the year. For example, getting to the school concert for your children, no matter what is going on at work that day is an example of connecting dots on a resolution of Family First. Think of each day as a sort of Etch-a-Sketch, with the chance to erase the day that’s done and begin with a clean slate the next day. Each day is a new opportunity to get closer to and make progress on your big goals.
One High-Five Example
Many people categorize their resolutions into categories like Self, Family, Money, Business, and Future (our very favorite around here at FUTURES, for obvious reasons). As a goal-setter you could choose to focus on two different goals for one category like Family or Business. Another goal-setter might have 3 big goals related to Money like get out of debt by April 15, save $3000 by December 31st, and Sell the car by June 1.
Do whatever will work best for you in terms of number of goals per category, but keep your big goals to no more than five—to ensure you don’t create too many. If you can tick off your goals on one hand, you’ll be more likely to achieve them.
To Do or Not To Do?
Each day, make yourself a to-do list. Much will be tied directly to daily activities, of course, but by being mindful of your five big resolutions, you might be able to slip in an extra walk, plan ahead to get to the school event early, or simply plan a free night to be open to whatever family situation might be happening.
Most of us typically have more on our to-do lists than is feasible to complete in one day. Comparing all of the items on your list to your High-Five categories can help you to make better choices. By taking the extra few seconds to connect the dots between your daily to-dos and your big resolutions, you will be able to prioritize more effectively. Put a check or circle every daily action that actually helps to get you closer to your big goals. If a task doesn’t align to any of your big goals and is not urgent or required by others, ask yourself if it is a good investment of your time. Should Stan really wash the car today or should he finally try to sell those three extra pieces of furniture on a website instead? Which choice would be more closely aligned to a big goal of getting his house ready to sell?
This method of carefully comparing your High-Five big goals to what you really do each day can help you to reflect back on your progress on a weekly basis. When you notice days slipping by without being able to check or circle a “connect-the-dots” action that links a daily action to a bigger resolution, it’s a wake-up call. Take a look at this example worksheet to become inspired to create your own. You can create your list electronically or as a hard copy. What matters is that you make a list and connect your actions to your priorities.
Investing in Your Goals
FUTURES: Financially Literate Kids for a Financially Literate Future™, is brimming with helpful information about investments. If any of your High-Five big goals for the coming year are financially-driven, the information in this FREE program could be a great place to start. Check out topics like:
Fundamentals of Investing
Stocks
Mutual Funds
Bonds
Purchasing Investments
Portfolio Management
As you jump back into your first weeks back at school after Winter Break, connect-the-dots between your big resolutions and your day-to-day activities and must-do tasks. And remember, each new day is a fresh start!