Forget those New Year’s resolutions — spring ahead with goals instead

by Karen Shirer, Associate Dean

I wonder if you are like me. Every year in late December I set resolutions for a healthier and happier new year. Then, a few months later my best intentions have often ended up on the garbage heap of lost causes. This year my resolutions included maintaining a healthy weight, focusing on the positive and what I can control and change, practicing yoga and running, and well…. being better in whatever way I can imagine. I think you get the picture.

This year has been no different. I’ve done okay on weight and physical activity, but focusing on the positive and what I can control and change — not so much. Which brings me to this blog post. Maybe like me, you struggle with keeping your resolutions past the first few months of the year. The slide into spring on March 20 provides a fresh start to forget those New Year’s resolutions and spring ahead with goals instead!

When faced with a perplexing issue, I do a web search to find out how to address the situation. Here’s what I learned this year that you may find useful.

Tip #1: Remind yourself that you’re not alone in struggling to keep your new year’s resolutions.

Fast Company magazine recently reported that 27 percent of people give up on their resolutions by the end of the first week of January, and 31 percent give them up by the third week. Just over 50 percent make it to the one month mark.

The article goes on to explain that the one big difference between those who stay resolute and those who don’t is based on how one feels about the resolution. To stay committed, the article says, we need to set goals for which we have passion and that are based on our values, beliefs and interests.

One last thought on this tip: Cut yourself some slack if you are part of the 50 percent who have given up. Personal change is hard, requiring time and lots of mistakes and false starts. Make sure you are talking to yourself in an encouraging way with thoughts like “I can do this,” “What did I learn from this attempt that can help me be more successful in the future?” and “I have a whole year to get this right!”

Tip #2: Reset and swap out your resolutions for goals that work.

The Fast Company article also gives wise advice on setting goals. Most important, our goals need to be about what we want to accomplish in the end. Instead of starting with “I am going to spend less money” or “I am going to run five days a week,” think about the overarching goal of improving financial or physical health.

Once we are clear on our overall goal, we can identify activities and concrete steps to get us closer to it. (This is where “I am going to run five days a week” makes more sense.) We also should try to understand everything we can about our goal and why it’s important to us; take immediate steps for fast wins; and realize we’ll make mistakes.

So here is how I would swap the resolution that isn’t working for me:

Swap resolution: Focus on the positive and what I can control and change.
For goal: I will find ways to enhance my mental well-being and lower my stress over the next year.

I’ve already taken some concrete action steps to achieve my newly stated goal:

Learn everything I can about ways to improve positivity in my personal and professional life.
Practice mindfulness by listening to OneOp (MFLN) Military Caregiving Mindfulness Podcast Series.
Get my physical activity outside (instead of inside) whenever the weather permits because soaking up some sunlight lifts the spirits.
Tell myself “I am learning something new every day to reach my goal” when I fall short.

These steps are ever evolving and change frequently. But now that I’ve swapped my resolution for an aspirational goal — mental well-being — I have a better sense of what steps to take and what to avoid. Try it and see how it works for you.

Tip #3: Access all the resources you can, including support from others, to reach your goals.

I found a useful resource before the new year — some tips in The Guardian newspaper:

Make your goal aspirational, but then break it down into concrete, achievable action steps. This makes the goal easier to reach. In a way, you are making the healthy choice the easy choice for yourself.
Take advantage of mornings to focus on your goal. The articles cites a study that showed that simple habits form more quickly in the morning due to elevated cortisol.
Get a system in place to track your progress like a journal, an app or a spreadsheet. Again, research shows that tracking improves success.
Set up a rewards program for yourself when you act on your goal and reward yourself immediately after reaching it. And make the reward fun.
Resist finding excuses to not follow through on your action steps. When I sense resistance, I often tell myself “I don’t have to be perfect but just need to do something.” It really helps me with the excuses.

In addition to these tips, look at your support network and identify others who can help you with your goals. A “goal buddy” or a group with like interests will help keep you on track and build you up when you hit the rough spots.

Rich with resources

Of course, OneOp (MFLN) is rich with resources in the areas of family transitions, nutrition and wellness, personal finance, personal and family relationships, and mental health As part of our network, we encourage you to use these resources to reach your goals! In addition to the Mindfulness Podcast Series mentioned above, here are a few of my top recommendations:

To sum up: Swap your resolutions for goals and action steps, and begin your reset today with an easy win. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself when things don’t go as planned. You will be more successful in the long run. Embrace the New Year …. and take steps to spring ahead to achieve your goals in the remaining months.

Karen Shirer is a member of OneOp Family Transitions Team and the Associate Dean with the University of Minnesota, Extension Center for Family Development. Karen is also the parent of two adult daughters, a grandmother, a spouse, and a cancer survivor.