Most of us have made New Year’s resolutions only to abandon them after the mood was gone. If you’re like me, it wasn’t because you didn’t want to achieve the goal. You probably didn’t plan to quit. So, why didn’t you keep your resolution? The answer might be in one of these 7 new Year’s resolution mistakes.
7 New Year’s Resolution Mistakes
1. Don’t make too many resolutions at one time
Resolving to lose weight, learn a language, go back to school, run every day, and cut down on the ole Coors Lite may not be realistic. Pick one and focus on it.
2. Don’t make generalized resolutions
For example, “I’m going to lose weight!” Spell out how much weight, your plan of attack, and set a deadline. This might help. Six ingredients of a Goal
3. Don’t wait until midnight New Year’s Eve to make your resolution
Put a little thought into it (and less of the traditional New Year’s Eve adult beverages) before making a resolution.
4. Don’t bite off more than you can chew
Break large resolves into smaller achievable bites. For example, if you haven’t been running and resolve to run a half marathon, you’re not going to do it next week. If you wanted to write 100 blog posts in 2021, you wouldn’t try to write them all in January, would you?
5. Don’t keep your resolution to yourself
Go public with your goals. If you’re serious about your goal, and by that, I mean you’ve thought it out and have a plan, then going public may be the added pressure you need to succeed.
6. Don’t focus on the goal—focus on activities
You cannot do a goal you can do activities. You cannot do a goal you can do activities.
7. Don’t over-complicate it
Keep it simple. Here’s an example.
My New Year’s resolution is to ___________________ my deadline is ___________________ the activities I will change, improve, begin, or stop to hit this goal are: ___________________.
There you have it, although the mid-20th century swashbuckling film star Errol Flynn may have the best answer when he resolved to, “Quit making resolutions!”
Have a safe and Happy New Year. See you in 2021.
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