By Noah Kehlenbach
Photo by Noah Kehlenbach
Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? How is it holding up now around Carnival time?
Chances are, probably not very well. Unfortunately, a recent Time Magazine article says that up to 80% of all resolutions fail by March, but this year, yours doesn’t have to. Following the tips in this article will help you identify the right way to make, and stick to, a resolution that improves your life.
The steps to successfully following through on your resolutions can be summed up with the acronym, SMART. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
The first step to making a strong resolution in the new year is to make it specific. The resolution you make should be very clear. For example, rather than saying, “I want to lose weight,” you should instead form your goal by asking yourself, “How much weight do I want to lose, and how long should I spend working on it?” This way, it’s easier to track your progress and see real improvement. Don’t fall into the trap of creating a resolution that is too basic or vague. People might pressure you into a goal that is different from what you had in mind in the first place. Committing to a resolution that doesn’t interest you is setting yourself up to fail and puts you back at square one.
The second tip is to make your resolutions measurable. This step is important to remember if you’re trying to cut back on something in your life or break a habit. For example, if you want to stop biting your nails, take pictures of your nails over time so you can track your progress in how those nails grow back out. Another way to stay on track is logging your progress into a journal or making notes on your phone.
The third tip is to make your goals achievable. This doesn’t mean that you can’t create big goals for yourself, but trying to take too big a step too fast can leave you frustrated. For example, aiming to save enough money to buy a new car in a year is probably not realistic, but saving an extra $50 a month may be a better goal.
The fourth tip is to keep your resolution relevant to you and your interests. Does this goal really matter to you? Are you making it for the right reasons? If you create a goal for yourself out of a sense of remorse or a strong passion in one moment, it doesn’t usually last long. However, if you build up a process where you’re thinking hard about what’s best for you, it makes your goals easier to accomplish in the long run.
The fifth tip to having a successful resolution is to make it time-bound. Similar to “achievable,” the timeline toward reaching your goal should be realistic, too. That means giving yourself enough time to do it with lots of smaller intermediate goals set up along the way. Focusing on achieving small wins helps you make gradual progress. Most of the time, when you are building a habit, you’re planning for the next decade rather than just the next few months.
One other tip that helps with resolutions is to find a community that has the same interests and mindset as you. This can help keep you consistent and on track.
Following these tips will help you create a resolution for something that interests you, improves your health, and creates good habits for the future.
