Revamp Your New Year’s Resolutions

It’s never too late to get started on Your New Year’s resolutions.

Key Takeaways:

• Everyone falls behind in their resolutions at times — it isn’t just you
• More than half of NYE resolutions are forgotten by March
• It’s easier to keep resolutions that are tied to a big-picture goal
• Babylonians started making NYE resolutions over 4,000 years ago
• The first step in accomplishing any goal is an extensive plan

As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, thoughts of winter’s drudgery slowly start to melt away. All too often, that includes our New Year’s resolutions.

More than half of the resolutions made every new year are never fulfilled. One-third are forgotten by the end of January, and most are abandoned by March. However, contrary to what you may believe, that fact has more to do with how they’re made than the willpower and tenacity of the people making them.

We tend to make resolutions destined to break because they’re too broad, vague, or unrealistic. Resolutions and goals also fail when there is no clear objective or purpose to aim for. The following is a primer on the history of resolutions and why we make them. It also explores a few practical ways for you to revamp this year’s resolutions and get back on track to knocking them out.

The history of NYE resolutions

Some 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians first celebrated the new year. They made promises to their deities to repay debts and return borrowed items. They believed that if they held to these resolutions, their gods would bestow good fortune upon them in the coming year.

While we’ve kept the general idea of the Babylonian promises, we do it for a different reason today. Researchers call it the “fresh start effect,” which refers to how temporal markers affect aspirational behavior.

The new year feels like a beginning. It looks like a blank slate, an opportunity to do things correctly. It motivates us to set goals, but we often bite off more than we can chew.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to get back on track to accomplishing your resolutions before 2024.

Keep it simple

Working toward a resolution takes energy — a lot of it. Not many people have the time and strength required to work on more than one major goal per year. This is especially true if you’re starting mid-year.

Focusing on one goal at a time allows you to give it your all rather than spreading your efforts across several projects. This strategy gives you a better shot at victory and is less daunting than a ten-page list of improvements to accomplish in eight months. After you’ve accomplished one goal, tackle the next.

Another way to keep things simple is to get specific. Narrow your goal down to a specific target. Instead of saying you will get in shape, try resolving to lose ten pounds, run a quarter mile three times per week, or eat salads with dinner every night.

Choosing a single, achievable goal allows you to create a realistic plan for accomplishment.

Be kind to yourself

It doesn’t matter if you’re working toward a specific resolution for the first time or the twentieth, be kind to yourself as you go through the process. Beating yourself up is counterproductive. The more you tell yourself how terrible you are, the more you believe it, and the less likely you are to accomplish your goal.

Choose a goal associated with a long-term vision

Make your resolution part of your long-term goals. You’re working toward the life you’ve always wanted, so aligning your resolutions in the same direction makes sense. It’s also much easier to stay on track when you do this.

Make a plan

Get serious about planning if you really want to accomplish your resolution. Behavior experts say the best way to get anything done is to contemplate why you want to do it, how it will get done, and the steps to make it happen before you make the first move.

Write everything down, including your action steps and progress. Brainstorm what strategies you’ll use when you run into roadblocks. Preparing for every possible outcome puts you a few steps ahead. And always use SMART goals — goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound so you can make sure your plan stays on track.

Don’t repeat failures

An easy way to steer clear of repeated failures is to try a different resolution. For example, if you always pledge to read more every year but never make it past January, try a different, but related, resolution. Instead of working toward the unspecific and unquantifiable resolution to read more every year, resolve to learn a new word every week or read a magazine from front to back each month.

If you think you can, you usually do. However, you’re less likely to believe you can accomplish something if you’ve tried to do it several times and have routinely not been successful.

Flexibility is a must

Changing a bad behavior or establishing a good one takes time. Rigidity in your plan will only knock you off course and fill you with disappointment. Incorporate a little flexibility to make it easier for you to stay the course.

Allow for a cheat day if you’re dieting or working out. Sometimes you don’t have the right supplies, time, or equipment to stick to your resolution, but that doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. Find a way to keep on keeping on.

Find a support community

A supportive community can make all the difference if you’re the social type. But even if you’re not, many online groups can be wonderful places to vent and find people with the same issues.

Like-minded communities help you find options and alternative ways to accomplish your goals when you feel stuck.

Falling behind on your New Year’s resolutions isn’t such a bad thing. It allows you to revamp your goals and come at them from a more productive angle. There’s no law that resolutions must be tied to the new year. Start fresh any time it’s right for you.

Are you ready to tackle those New Year’s resolutions?

Getting behind is part of the process. The real test is how you carry on. Get back in the saddle with an actionable plan and the right tools. Neel Sus loves to help people live more holistically and find their true power in personal transformation. Visit his Facebook and Insta pages to see how he can help you today.