Is it really a good idea to set a new year’s resolution? Many do it, as the new year often feels like a chance to restart and get tasks back on track that we may have been neglecting. However, most people’s success rates regarding new year’s resolutions are also usually meager. So why is that? Why do we often fail our resolutions? Failing never feels good, and working towards bettering ourselves is always good. 

This has to do with the size of the goals we usually set for our resolutions. Plus, a lack of actionable planning to achieve the goals that we’ve set for ourselves will lead to failure. That is if we even start working towards our goals in the first place. 

Proper Goal Setting

“I want to lose weight” will always be an impossible goal. This is an ideal, not something you can commit to working towards. Whereas, “I will set aside time in my schedule, 1 hour on Tuesdays and 1 hour on Thursdays for working out.” is actionable.

A huge part of goal setting has to do with organizing your schedule in a transparent way. You can only commit to something you have the time for. So before you start thinking about any new resolutions for the year, it’s best to sit down with a calendar, planner, or whatever you use to organize your day-to-day commitments and schedule things. 

1. Start with the most essential things that you should always add to your schedule first

• Your work schedule 
• Setting aside time for necessary life-sustaining errands like grocery shopping, cleaning and doctors appointments
• Scheduling your meals
• Scheduling to make sure you’re getting enough sleep

2. Next, what secondary commitments do you already have? 

3. Finally, what new commitments do you have time to add?

If you’ve completed the first two above steps and have found that you need more time to take on something new, that’s ok. Overworking is worse for your health than any new commitment you could take on. If you genuinely can’t take one more thing, don’t.  

Remember also to add steps slowly. For instance, starting with only working out two times a week doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s far easier to commit to. Then you can add more days afterwards once you’ve established your routine and have been successful at following your routine for a little while. Going overboard on all the steps you need to take to accomplish your goals will lead to you giving up far faster than if you had taken baby steps and only added more steps when you are ready. 

The Bigger Picture

Now, all this being said, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a bigger picture in mind. It would be best if you had a complete understanding of the success that you are working towards. But, only thinking of the bigger picture will render your goal, or resolution, unattainable.

In order to be successful in the new year, stay focused, develop a positive attitude and be passionate with your dreams.

Bamigboye Olurotimi