Many Americans use the new year as an opportunity to set goals, make plans, and create New Year’s resolutions. I am sure there is data on how many people set resolutions, how many quit, and how long it takes them to quit, but it’s safe to say that MOST people do not follow through on working toward and completing these goals. There are a few roadblocks that I believe keep people from achieving their New Year’s goals. And being aware of these hurdles can help you navigate properly to avoid failing.
First, most people set unrealistic goals. I am a big fan of going big. I believe most of us have visions that are too small or less than optimal, so having a huge goal (or goals) is encouraged. However, those really big goals need to be held in your mind’s eye down a road that is paved with many other smaller achievements that must be made in order to get there. Your New Year’s resolution has to be reasonable, attainable, and not too daunting. If you have not worked out at all this past year, saying that you are going to work out seven days per week, two hours per day, is unrealistic. Setting a goal to have one million dollars in your bank account by June, when you only have $1,000 to your name, is likely futile.
Be aware of where you are, set reasonable goals, and make it so that you can see steady progress along the way. One reason people quit is that the goal they set is much too big, they do not see enough progress, they get discouraged, and they give up.
Another reason people tend to fail is that they lack preparation. You cannot set a goal on January 1st and expect everything to just fall into place. If you plan to join a gym, start looking now. If you’re planning on changing the way you eat, start listing recipes, order ingredients ahead of time, and start thinking about when you’ll prepare your meals. If you need new running shoes, workout clothes, or gym equipment, order them now so you are ready to go. If you plan on using a new app to help track your activities and behaviors, or if you plan on using a device to monitor your biometrics, get those now. Having those devices and downloading those apps now will allow you time to become familiar with the features and comfortable with the way they work and will minimize any problems as you embark on your new year.
A third pitfall leading to resolution failure is set-backs. Coming out of the gate too fast and too strong often leads to soreness and injury with new workouts, headaches, nausea, and/or fatigue with new diets, and confusion and mistakes with new time management, sleep, and productivity goals. Better to ease in…do not wait until January 1st to start. There is nothing magical about that day. The primary reason I am writing about New Year’s resolutions a full month before the new year is to get you going now. Starting a light workout now will get you through that aching and soreness that often stifles long-term success with working out. Making better food choices and being better with your meal planning now will get your body primed for a bigger boost once you hit the new year. Do a soft-start now. Imagine how much smoother and better January will go if you hit the ground running (pun intended!😉).
I don’t want to discourage you from setting HUGE goals. If you want an extraordinary life, you have to set extraordinary goals. But getting those incredible results starts with more little wins. And without the little wins, you’ll get run down, frustrated, and quit. It happens to most people when setting New Year’s resolutions. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Take time this weekend to think about, set, and write down your new year goals. January 1st is as good a time as any to get on a new path to a better, more fulfilling, more successful life. Make 2024 your best year yet… just don’t wait until the last minute to get started.
