Keeping Resolutions

For as long as I can remember, I have used the New Year’s holiday to reflect and set resolutions for the upcoming year. I think some of it has to do with the visual of turning the page into a new year or fresh start. I always reflect on the statement attributed to Zig Ziegler: “If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.”

About twenty years ago, however, I realized that resolutions rarely take root in long-term habits without a disciplined process and system of execution. This includes prioritizing two or three key goals that will lead to the most significant impact in your life when you invest your focus and time.

The best way to identify your priorities for a new year is to grab a blank sheet of paper and list out your dreams, goals and ambitions down the left side of the page. Consider this a brainstorming session where there are no “dumb” ideas. The goal is to get a list of various goals you would like to accomplish in the future. You may want to break it down and consider goals in specific areas like career, finances, family, fun, fitness, faith, philanthropy and more.

Once you complete your list, go back through the full list and begin prioritizing the goals and ambitions that will have the biggest impact on your life in the year ahead. You can begin winnowing down the list by highlighting those priority items with a marker or creating a second column to move forward some of the list. Continue narrowing your list to a core two or three resolutions for the new year. 

Once you identify your core goals to focus on in the new year, you need to map out the steps needed to accomplish the goal. A great framework to consider about each goal is whether it is specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time-measured.

By way of example, if your goal is to get in better shape, a specific plan could include committing to walking five days a week, cutting out fried food for three months and drinking 64 ounces of water each day. These are specific and measurable actions to achieve your primary objective of getting into shape.

Another important aspect of achieving your new year’s goals is tracking. You can then incorporate a tracking system to make sure you stay focused on accomplishing the actions needed to hit the goal. This can be as simple as noting each day you walk and how much water you drink each day on a calendar. At the end of each week, you can review the number of positive checkmarks you have at the end of each week. There are a host of great online tools and apps that can help you build a tracking system to help you accomplish your goal.

Perhaps the best way to ensure you build accountability into your plan is to have your spouse, a colleague or a trusted friend to check in on your progress. Better yet, identify goals you can work on together with a friend or spouse.