At the start of every year, people all over the world take time to reflect on where they are and where they’d like to be. New Year’s resolutions are meant to be a fresh start. We set ambitious goals with the hope of self-improvement. Yet, as the months pass, we often find ourselves struggling to stay committed to or focused on those resolutions, often leading us to frustration, discouragement, and even abandoning our resolutions. In fact, the average New Year’s resolution is quit in under 4 months. Generally, the problem isn’t a lack of willpower or skill, but often the way these resolutions are structured.
Now that we’ve settled into the New Year, you’ve had some time to stretch your legs on those New Year’s resolutions. By this point, you’ve probably noticed what’s working, what’s not, and which goals might have been just a bit too ambitious. But before you scrap your New Year’s resolutions altogether, consider this: maybe you don’t need new goals—just a new approach. That’s why we’ve come up with our top 5 tips for restructuring your goals and ensuring success in this new year.
Reconnect with your WHY
Take a moment to think back on when you set your resolutions. What was the driving force behind them? Why were these resolutions important to you to begin with? Whether you’re hoping to grow your career, take control of your health and wellness, or build stronger relationships with those you love, your why is what truly matters. Your why, or reason for pursuing a specific goal, is deeply important. The stronger your purpose for setting goals, the more likely you’ll strive to attain them. Purpose is so important, in fact, that one study proved those who have a stronger sense of purpose experience less negative feelings like anxiety and nervousness than those without a strong sense of purpose. Reconnect with the purpose behind your goals, using it as fuel for your endeavors and much needed motivation when times get tough.
Identify possible obstacles
Once you’ve checked-in with your purpose, try to identify potential roadblocks you may face while pursuing your goals. Do your current goals demand more time than you can give them? Are they more physically demanding than you originally thought? Can you foresee any obstacles that could block your path along the way? Recognizing potential roadblocks gives you the power to navigate around them. Maybe your goal to workout daily needs to shift to three times a week in order to be practical. Or, your reading resolution should accommodate audiobooks rather than center solely around physical copies. Small tweaks can make all the difference. Remember–your goals should be achievable.
Think SMARTER when structuring your goals
The goals you set at the beginning of the year may need a quick tune-up in order to be achievable. Sometimes we start with a goal that’s much too vague, lacking the clarity needed to make an actionable plan. Or, we set goals that are too unrealistic–despite our strong drive and abilities. When restructuring our resolutions, it’s best to think SMARTER: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, enjoyable, and rewarding.
Your goals should be specific enough to create an actionable plan with a measurable outcome to determine achievement. They should also be realistically achievable based on the time, effort, and talent you can dedicate towards their execution. Aligning your goals to your purpose keeps them relevant to your big-picture goals and growth journey. Lastly, your goals should be enjoyable and rewarding. Though there may be some obstacles along the way, and even some discomfort from ‘growing pains’, your goals should inspire you so much that they feel enjoyable–despite the challenge. Crafting a goal with these elements in mind allows us to see our progress more easily and achieve our intended outcome.
Set attainable milestones
Big goals can feel overwhelming. Rather than focusing on one large end goal, craft a plan that breaks your large goals into smaller, more manageable steps. There are many advantages to this approach. For one, breaking a large ambition into smaller goals allows you to more easily keep track of success. You’re more likely to see your progress when you achieve many small goals than you would if you set one large, obscure goal. Setting smaller goals also enhances the feeling of success. Each small win creates a motivational momentum, reinforcing positive habits and making it easier to keep going until you reach the larger goal. Reduce the intimidation and overwhelming nature of large dreams by crafting them into smaller, more manageable objectives.
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Recommit with a restructured plan
Restructuring a plan for resolutions may be just the thing you need to ensure achievement and recommit to your purpose. Now that you’ve adjusted your approach, commit to your new plan. Track your progress, celebrate wins–big and small–and keep in mind that it’s okay to tweak your goals as life changes. Resolutions aren’t about personal perfection—they're about driving a meaningful change and becoming the best version of yourself.
It’s time to make the most of this new year by restructuring your resolutions and setting yourself up for success. If you’re ready to take your goal-setting to the next level this year, check out our latest ebook, “Path to Success: Mastering the Art of Goal Achievement”. It’s packed with top insights and actionable strategies aimed at turning your dreams into reality–without the mid-February burnout.
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