Why You Shouldn’t Make New Year’s Resolutions…And What To Do Instead

A quarter of New Year’s Resolutions don’t last more than a week and more than half of New Year’s resolutions don’t last past January. That is crazy! And exactly why I don’t like resolutions – they don’t work. 

Only 9% of people see their resolutions through. So why don’t they work? It’s because they aren’t realistic or actionable. Saying you’re going to lose 20lbs and start working out isn’t a measurable goal. Instead, committing to downloading a workout app, and doing a yoga routine in your basement at 7 am, for 30 minutes, 3 days a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) is a much better goal that can be measured and actioned on.

Instead of making a “resolution”, set a goal for the year. Once you have your goal, you’ll need to break it down into actionable items on how to get there. You’ll need to come up with a realistic timeframe of when you’ll be able to accomplish this goal. Keep in mind, most people overestimate what they can do in a year but underestimate what they can do in 5 years. Then you’ll want to break that down further into what you need to accomplish each month/week / day. Once you’ve set your goal, and have your realistic timeline, you’ll need to take action. This is where you’ll commit to creating healthy habits that support your goal. Start creating and stacking the habits you need to get you to reach your goals. 

Remember, you also don’t need to wait until the new year to set your goals. To be successful, It’s important to revisit your goals at least every season and evaluate if you’re habits are driving you toward where you want to be. This is when you need to get really honest with yourself and make the small changes you need to in order to achieve your goals. 

When December rolls around, make yourself product by committing to doing these habits daily. It’s the little things done consistently that have the biggest impact.