First of all, I am not a huge fan of the term ‘New Year's Resolutions' as it has lost its true meaning and is almost now seen as a cliché.  I collated responses to a brief survey I took that I would like to share.  How would you answer these questions for yourself?  Perhaps some of the answers already resonate with you.

1. What do you think of New Year's Resolutions?

“They're good if there's a solid plan” 

“I think NY resolutions suck!  But that's because I never end up following them.”

“NY resolutions are good to get your mind thinking about plans for the upcoming year and thinking about what you want in life (i.e. better job, better health, etc)”

“I think they're done so that you have something to say, and not necessarily because you're 100% into it.”

2. Do they work for you?

“No…I think I fail at keeping them because I don't keep it in the fore front of my mind when I live every day, so I'll be great with resolutions for about a week or two... and then I tend to fall back into old habits.”

“No… I made too many (really one should have no more than two or three), and perhaps they were not realistic/honest/achievable enough”

“…They are usually unrealistic. What does work for me is making commitments on an annual basis, usually around my b-day, that are attainable and something I desire”

Why do they not work?

 “I have no will power.  Maybe I go into it knowing that I won't follow them.”

“…my failure is I have too many, I fall into old habits, I tend to have many "life enriching" (somewhat non-priority) resolutions…”

“… hectic life starts all over again…too many distractions…It's difficult to stay focused on anything.  It would probably be better to make a resolution a different time of the year.”

“… I didn't have a plan.  I wasn't in the right frame of mind...”
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So where do your answers fit?  What did you notice as you were reading through? The concept of New Years is great because it's a way to reflect upon your life and determine what you want to change or where you want to grow.  But as you can see for most people, it just ends up being a big disappointment. Wouldn't it be great to think of goal setting as an exciting and achievable process, rather than just avoiding them altogether because you think you are setting yourself up for failure?

Your goals should be a product of your personal values, passions and inspirations.  Don't go after a goal just because you need something to say or think you have to.  Do it because you have a desire to and are committed to put the time and energy into achieving it.  The first step is getting clear on what you value most and know will make the biggest difference in your life if you work at it.  The key to getting results is awareness, continued action, and accountability.

Below I have provided an action plan and some strategies to help you set goals year round, not just once a year.   You shouldn't have to wait until New Years to accomplish what we want in life.

Your “Spring Into Action” Plan:

Step 1: Choose achievable, measurable and clear goals that inspire you 

Step 2: Break your goals down into small chunks with multiple goal posts to alleviate overwhelm 

Step 3: Write your goals down where you can see them 

Step 4: Set small daily actions for yourself that will continue to push you forward 

Step 5: Keep track of your progress and actions towards your goal 

Step 6: Celebrate each win, no matter how small 

Tips On Making The Above Really Work!

Getting Clear On What Goals To Set:

What motivates and inspires you?

What are your personal values?

What dreams are going unfulfilled?

What matters to you most right now?

If you knew you couldn't fail, what would you focus on?

What could you work on that would make the biggest impact in your life?

Staying Engaged:

Elicit a support buddy (i.e. friend, coach, mentor, loved one)

Visualize your goal daily

Set a daily intention: What do you want your day to be about?

Stay aware & notice your thoughts: What can you do each day to keep this on the forefront of your mind?

Choose to commit: You experience what you expect

Do regular goal post checks: “How close am I to reaching my goal?”, “What do I need to do to progress further this week?” “When do I operate at my best?”

Acknowledge what you have done well each day

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I challenge you to give it a try and “Spring Into Action” now!  Finally, make the process fun!

 "Life is an adventure, dare it." - Mother Teresa: Nobel Peace Prize winner

Written By Stephanie Vora