Every year millions of people set goals at the beginning of the year, and every year many of those millions fail. Some have set the same goals every new year for years, perhaps decades, because making resolutions stick is difficult when you lose enthusiasm and revert to old habits and routines. Then months pass quickly and before we know it, another year is upon us. So, what is the difference between those of us who make the same resolutions year after year and those who accomplish their resolutions? They follow the five steps below:
Consider The Reasoning Of Your Goal
When setting a goal, it is important to consider why you want to have that goal and if you’re making it for the right reasons. Dr. Michael Bennett, a psychiatrist and author of two self-help books told the New York Times, “If you do it out of the sense of self-hate or remorse or a strong passion in that moment, it doesn’t usually last long,” he said. “But if you build up a process where you’re thinking harder about what’s good for you, you’re changing the structure of your life, you’re bringing people into your life who will reinforce that resolution, then I think you have a fighting chance.”
Don’t Be Afraid To Go Big
Setting big goals is instrumental to major accomplishments, and according to Harvard Medical School having a big goal in and of itself can inspire you to accomplish it, whether it is running a marathon, starting a business, writing a book or getting into graduate school. They also say a big goal will often inspire those around you, who may offer encouragement and support by assisting you in practical ways to help you achieve your goal. And don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.
Make A Short To Do List Every Day
In his book, Smarter Faster Better Pulitzer Prize winning business reporter Charles Duhigg explains how to-do lists impact productivity. “Studies indicate that about 15% of people writing to-do lists will write down things they have already completed because it just feels so good to check them off and feel like you’re being productive,” Duhigg told Medium. “The problem is that’s using a to-do list for what’s known as mood repair, not for productivity.” And research shows that when you have a long to do list, you will likely choose to complete the easy, inessential tasks over the more complex tasks you’re putting off. Medium writes that each morning Duhigg makes a to do list of three things, which seems like a short list but it helps him accomplish the most essential tasks, rather than tasks that would simply feel good to complete.
Measure Your Progress
Every source I cite in this article, and most any article you read on productivity will state you need to have calculable goals, and measure the incremental progress you make on said goals. Some goals are made to be measured, like weight loss or miles run per week. Others goals are tougher to measure, such as a promotion at work or a new career. Then you have to break down your goal into smaller and calculable goals. What you would need to do to get a promotion or a new job: is it winning new clients? Completing certain projects? Is getting a new certification part of that equation? How many applications are you submitting every week? How many network e-mails are you sending? These are ways you can calculate a goal that is difficult to measure, by breaking it down into tasks and tracking your progress.
Forget Perfection
The American Psychological Association writes that a key part of success is how you treat yourself when you fail, and you will inevitably fail. Failure is the process of success. Whether you forget to journal one day, are too busy to work out the next, or eat the thing you’re trying not to eat, etc. everything is part of the process. Learn from it. Could it have been prevented? If not, forgive yourself and start tomorrow. If it could have been prevented, consider why and make necessary changes moving forward (i.e. limiting your obstacles, not enabling bad habits, etc.). Start again tomorrow and don’t let your disappoint send you into a shame or guilt spiral. Everyone fails, don’t let it dampen your enthusiasm.
