We can’t deny that one of the things that excite us the most from the New Year is to set a bunch of resolutions that are supposed to improve our lives in the upcoming year. We are so motivated and sure that this year will be different and that we will actually accomplish those goals throughout the next 12 months but right when June hits the calendar, we just look back to discover that we have forgotten about them and maybe some of them are not achievable anymore.
Don’t be discouraged, it has surely happened to all of us. Nobody is perfect and maybe it will continue happening from time to time, but the important thing is that you identify the main flaws in your goal-setting process in order for you to act on them and actually turn your goals into reality. So if you need a little help as to which are the most common reasons why people can’t stick to their New Year’s resolutions for 12 consecutive months, just keep on reading.
Being too ambitious
There is nothing wrong with dreaming big. We completely understand the excitement towards goal setting and the start of a whole new year for a bunch of new possibilities, but remember to keep it real.
Sometimes, setting many resolutions at once can get too overwhelming and you are most likely to forget about them sooner than later. To start making a brainstorming or bucket list where you add all the different goals you can imagine for the new year without any limits; then choose just 12 (one for each month) that will be your top priorities and start working from there, slowly but surely.
Finally, as you go on accomplishing them, you can continue adding the rest of the goals that you included in your initial list and that way it will be easier for you to be on track of your new projects.
Expect instant achievement
Everything regarding new year’s resolutions is a process. Don’t expect that right when January first arrives, your life will change like in a fairytale and each one of your days or routines must be perfect for them to count.
The key to success is persistence and determination, so find a way to always have in mind your resolutions and don´t be discouraged if your achievements take longer than you thought. You have 12 months and 365 days worth of opportunities to make your projects come to life.
A complex routine
Some of those resolutions may be closely related to building new habits, so the ideal way in which we can achieve them is by incorporating those ideas into our daily routines. But remember that sometimes less is more and even though a super productive and healthy routine with a million steps may sound like the most inspiring way to go, it is not realistic for building everyday habits. Is better to stick to the bare necessities and from there, you can add or replace habits so that your routine stays simple while you feel revamped with the application of your new resolutions.
Not being SMART
Just a little bit of theory on goal-setting… have you heard of the SMART goals? Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based.
Well, those are the exact characteristics that your New Year’s resolutions have to have for a success guarantee and that most of the time people forget to take into consideration. Stop setting very complex, surrealistic, or general goals to see if they happen to be achieved and instead, take a look at how your life looks right now, what are your capabilities, and which goals can be adjusted to fit the SMART criteria so that you can actually conquer this upcoming year.
Forget to enjoy the process
Of course, accomplishing your New Year’s resolutions requires discipline and some kind of responsibilities, but that doesn’t stop them from being fun and a boost of motivation for the next 12 months.
Don´t put too much pressure on yourself because no one is rushing or grading you on whether you achieve them or not. If you perceive these goals as an actual duty, you are more likely to leave them behind; but if you take your time and learn to enjoy the process, it will be easier for you to work towards them for longer.
Keep in mind that there’s no one else to impress but yourself and you have the ability to achieve these goals for your own benefit and happiness.
Photos from Pexels
