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Article 2015, the year of NO goals and NO resolutions

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A resolution means to resolve something that is not working, to fix something, which implies that we are broken.

It’s a promise we make to ourselves that once made, only 8% of people actually follow through with. We are often left feeling like a total failure.

For centuries, this tradition was a made at the start of the year by creating a list of things we may wish to achieve over the course of the next 12 months.

I have in the past always written a list on New Years Day of what I wanted for the New Year. I keep this list in my phone and reflect on it towards the end of each year. I recently read my New Year Resolutions for 2014 and I must admit that although some were achieved, many items on my list never even got a look in!

So I thought about why I had not achieved my list in 2014? Was I lazy, had I changed my mind, were the items unobtainable to me? I have processed my thoughts over the past few weeks and decided I want to start 2015 differently.

I tend to place an enormous amount of pressure on myself, often placing a list of at least 20 items that must be achieved in a year. What if I were to start the year by writing a smaller list of steps.

Steps are so different to a New Years Resolution or a goal because with steps, we actually implement an action plan. It’s the method we are going to take to achieve what we want. Steps are specific (what is it you wish to do), measureable (when do you want to action this by), achievable (are you able to complete it), realistic (comes with a timeframe).

Of course your dreams should challenge you enough that at times they may even scare you but let’s start writing a list that we actually action. You are drawing a map so to speak about the direction you want to head in. Like one of my favourite quotes says, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

I may have a goal to write two books in 2015. When I read this goal, it overwhelms me as I worry about how I am going to find the time to complete this. I start to procrastinate and the goal never gets achieved. If I set myself steps, where I commit to writing for two hours on a Monday and Friday morning, its breaks down this overwhelming goal and I focus on what I actions I need to take to get my desired outcome. It’s a shift in how we look at things.

The first step is to write down 1 – 5 things you really want to do in 2015. It can be travelling, work related, relationship related or a health/personal target.

Specific: What do I want to achieve?

Measurable: When am I going to action this?

Achievable: Who or how can I ensure I action this

Timeframe: When I am starting this goal and by when should it be completed?

Once you have done this, transfer this information into your diary so you keep to it like an appointment, for example; January 6th I am starting a 30 day Bikram yoga challenge.

Then, forget the goal and commit to the process.

Do you have New Years resolutions every year? Have you ever achieved your resolution?

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com
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Comments

  • I didn’t have any goals or resolutions fir 2015. Glad to say I haven’t failed with any either :) I’m always trying to be healthy and fit, not just for resolutions

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  • I’ve never really ever made a New Years resolution.. People never really keep them past February anyway!

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  • I tend to start a few and forget the rest.

    • Perhaps pick only one or two goals that are really important to you and only focus on these. It definitely takes the pressure off and reduces the feeling of failure.

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  • Yep I fail so many resolutions coz its unachievale in the time frame

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  • I just realised, it’s the last month of January and I haven’t set any goals!

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  • I am doing a semi no goal year by just thinking I want to be more positive. The other stuff I want should come as a result…I hope. lol. I’m not putting any measures on it and I am just aiming for it. One thing I am doing is posting positive comments on FB once a day. Little steps!

    • I think this is an amazing mindset to kick off the new year. I really believe that positivity breeds positivity…and devine to inject this into Face Book which can sometimes be a negative space. Good for you!! Love it

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  • Yep great advice! I don’t really do new years resolutions as I don’t stick to them – but this year I did say on 3rd Jan I’m going to start my healthy eating/exercise habits. So far so good.

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  • I do usually have a New Years resolution every year and never stick to them. So this year I just decided to have a healthier lifestyle, which I was on my way to in 2014 anyway, and I seem to be doing well so far.

    • Wanting to be healthy is a wonderful plan for the year ahead. I wish you all the best with it. I have recently stopped eating so much sugar and feeling great so its all about the small steps that add up to great change x Marina

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  • Every year or would I say, at the end of a year, I looked back and think of the things I have achieved, gained, learned (good or bad), failed, missed etc from the experiences of my daily life. I always try to look at the positive things I have experienced and continually practice that mentality on the things I do in life. And from that, I focus on the things I can do better and achieve for the following year. I try to do small steps to achieve my bigger goals. And if I don’t get to reach my goal I tend to try again and improve from that situation. I am lucky to have great family and friends support to get where I want to be in life, whether, being a great friend, mum, sister, wife etc. And I always remind myself to be thankful to God of the things I get to experience in life.

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  • I do have a list of things to do but not resolutions as such.

    • I believe a list is good, it takes the pressure off and just becomes a ‘to do list’.

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  • Great to read all your comments and I think its fair to say, we all agree that putting pressure on ourselves to make a list of resolutions is not the way moving forward. I wish you all a year full of love, laughter and adventure! x Marina

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  • I was reasing the other day that only 6% of people who set resolutions achieve them, Ive failed every year but mind you, when I look at what my resolutions are they are never realistic. So this year it was either going to be that I didnt set a resolution or i set something achieveable and only 1 goal as apposed to 20. Ive set one, i know its achieveable and I expect it to be done in less then 12 months but I have a couple of month buffer just in case. Next year, if i ace this one, i’ll take it up a notch

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  • I feel resolutions are a negative start to the year. It’s like reinforcing that you have all these issues to fix. I prefer the start of a new year to be a happy time. Look forward with optimism and good vibes. Resolutions road block this I think.
    Besides… Most of the time we’re drink or hungover when we make these promises to ourselves. Since when are promises made under the influence of alcohol genuine and or likely to be viewed with as much enthusiasm the morning after?
    Happy new year! Yes!
    New Years resolution… No!

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  • Sometimes I carry out my new year resolutions but I mainly wing it!

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  • I take one day at a time and we like to do things as we see fit. We plan on the day and maybe for the weekend but that’s as far forward as it goes around here and it works.

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  • yeah i don’t make resolutions because i don’t keep them lol

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  • When I was younger I made resolutions I intended to follow through but that was before children career and hubby. Nowadays they are simple ones like travel once a month to a different town and explore. Simple resolutions but flexible is the key

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  • I never make new years resolutions, I think it’s a silly tradition, yes I have my goals, but I don’t feel like I need it to be new years to get up and do it.

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  • I stopped planning to fail, now I do things in my own time.

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  • 2014 is the only year that I actually kept my NY resolution which was to save money. I did a savings plan where you put away $1 on week , $2 week 2 til I got to $52 in week 52

    Reply
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