New Year’s Resolution: 98.3% Fail
January. It’s this time of the year, when many of us try to live up to the changes they planned for the new year. I will eat healthy. More exercise. I want to read more. Guess what! 98.3%* of all New Year’s resolutions fail. But why? Why are we even trying? And how can we do better?
New Year’s resolutions are not a bad idea. At least, they show that you are reflecting on your life. Usually, anyone will identify areas to improve. So, don’t stop it. Yet, here is some advice on how to increase your chances to achieve the changes that really matter to YOU.
Start with WHY
Reflecting means basically evaluating where and who I am and how this matches my expectations some time ago. This can be done very systematically. Yet, even without any systems, past goals, journals et cetera, you will get a first feeling. Now, figure out what is its root cause. Why do you feel you are not where you wanted to be? Why are you not happy with your job? Why do you think you should earn more money? Why do you even need more money? Keep on drilling down until you find an actionable area that is mostly in your ownership and responsibility. This is a good starting point. It frames your intentions, your goals and keeps you motivated. This area is where your investments will be directed towards.
Of course, you can have more than one area. Even most likely so. If you are aware of them, you can define them upfront and drill down in each category. In any case, prioritize. Don’t spread yourself too thin.
Step on the SCALE
“You cannot manage what you cannot measure” says a popular quote. Even though, I do not 100% agree with it, there is some truth in it. While “I want to get fitter” is a good idea, it is hard to tell whether you are making any progress. Same goes for “I want to read more” and “I want to eat healthy”.
Find the right metric and incorporate into your objective. How many books are you planning to read per month? What is your target body weight in 3 months from now? And I have no clue how to measure eating healthy.
Measuring progress is a key success factor. Some things simply take time. And progress does not alway come in a linear way. Yet, when stepping on the scale you will remind yourself on where you are heading. And it will trigger another session of reflecting on the recent past.
Tell OTHERS
Once, you have defined the underlying reason for change, tell others about it. You do not need to have all your objectives and metrics. Challenge your findings and your own perspective with friends and family. Find people who know you and who actually care. Sometimes, we are too hard on ourselves. In other cases, we are blind for our true weaknesses. A sparring partner might unveil a different root cause or trigger a change in priorities. Besides, telling others also increases the need to deliver on your goals. It is easier to cheat on yourself than telling your best friend you skipped another trail run.
Change is not easy. It always comes at a cost. But do not stop trying to a become a better you. It is never too late. You are never too old.
*) 98.3% is a random percentage I made up :)
