It’s a new year and, if all goes well, a new you. But what many people don’t realize is that simply making the resolution isn’t enough. There needs to be a plan behind every one of your goals or you may not be able to overcome the hurdles as they arise, possibly leading to giving up on your resolution early.
Researchers suggest that by the end of January 43% of people have stopped working on their resolutions. Set yourself up for success by following a few tips to make your goals more achievable.
Understand your limits
It’s OK to want to have lots of different goals. However, one reason many people don’t meet their resolutions is because they set too many to keep up with. Make a list of all the things you want to improve in the new year and then narrow them down, choosing a few of the most important ones. Once you achieve those, move on to the other ones next year. Setting a limit and being able to maintain focus will help you overcome overwhelming yourself.
Set sights small
Big resolutions can be difficult to achieve. The harder they are, the more likely you are to quit them. Instead of making one large goal for something, try putting it in smaller, more achievable milestones that you can celebrate along the way. Rather than setting a goal to save $5,000 for the year, break it down into bi-weekly goals and save $193 per paycheck. Don’t forget to set up the automatic transfer to your savings account to help you solidify that habit!
Reward yourself
Speaking of celebrating… treat yourself. Having something to look forward to each time you reach a milestone will make it more likely for you to achieve it. Have a goal of losing weight? Set a reward at intervals like the 5-, 10- and 25-pound mark and make your reward better for reaching each one. Setting goals to pay off debt? Don’t forget to give yourself a little treat with each credit line you pay off.
Give yourself grace
Changing habits and behaviors is a difficult thing to do. But don’t beat yourself up if you have a setback. Make a plan ahead of time on how you are going to address why the setback happened, what you can do differently next time, and then forgive yourself and continue trying. Building new habits is a process and it is different for everyone.
In the pursuit of an improved version of yourself in the new year, resolutions can fall short without a plan. With over 40% of people abandoning their resolution by the end of January, it’s clear that success demands more than just intention. Focus on a few goals to avoid overwhelm, break your goals down into achievable milestones, and celebrate success, rewarding yourself to sustain motivation along the way. Most importantly, grant yourself grace to overcome setbacks. By following these principles, you will pave the way for lasting impact into the coming year and beyond.
Rachel Caballero is community development manager at TruWest Credit Union.
