Making and Keeping New Year's Resolutions

It’s the time of the year when people traditionally think about New Year’s resolutions. I did some research on what the experts had to say about these resolutions and came up with some interesting thoughts I’d like to share with you.

How to fail:
1) Picking resolutions at the last minute without adequate thought, especially if they are based on what happens to be on your mind at that moment.
2) Trying to make too many resolutions
3) Pick ones that your friends want, or that seem socially proper, instead of ones that you are really internally motivated to pursue.
4) Being unrealistic and underestimating the effort required.
5) Being too abstract, or just plain frivolous. Examples include “getting fit” or “having more fun”. These are too difficult to develop a detailed plan for, especially when there’s no time frame in mind. “Winning the lottery” is another example of a frivolous goal - you cannot develop a detailed and realistic plan to accomplish it.
6) Framing your resolutions as absolutes by saying, "I will never do X again."
7) Being too critical of yourself and giving up on the resolution as a failure.

How to succeed:
1) Pick the right resolution: Your resolution statement should include why you want to make the resolution, and/or a description of the benefits you expect from achieving it. You should have a strong initial motivation to work on this resolution. Give yourself adequate time to think the resolutions through. Start well before New Year’s Eve, and don’t consider Jan 1st as a hard deadline. It’s better to take a few weeks in January to come up with the right resolutions and plans than to commit yourself to a poor resolution after 15 minutes of thought on New Year’s Eve.
2) Work on a small number at a time. Your best success rate will come if you work on one at a time.
3) Frame the goal in terms of specific things you will do on a schedule. Instead of “getting fit”, resolve to “get fit by exercising 3 times a week starting next week”.
4) Develop a specific thought-out plan for how to achieve your goal and write it down. Include sub-goals that you need to accomplish along the way, and small rewards when you achieve them. Also include plans for what you will do when you face difficulties or temporary setbacks. Have coping strategies to deal with problems that will come up.
5) Get started immediately when the motivation is high. Or if the motivation is not high, get started immediately anyway. Action will increase your motivation level and help you build momentum.
6) Don’t be an extreme perfectionists. Look at temporary failures as growth and learning experiences. The key to success is often the ability to keep going in spite of the temporary setback along the way. Remain flexible - expect that your plan can and will change.
7) Don't keep your resolutions to yourself. It helps to share your goals with friends. It builds your own resolution to succeed, and your friends can gently nudge you in the right direction when you veer off course.
8) Remind yourself every day - After a few months, a resolution has a tendency to work its way out of your mind and off your to-do list. One way to combat this is to create a simple reminder, such as writing your resolution down on a small piece of paper and tape it to the mirror in your bathroom. Do this simple action is a good way to judge how serious you really are about achieving the resolution.
9) Keep track of your progress, monitor how you’re doing, and make adjustments when necessary.


Some great links that I found helpful:
How to keep up with those New Year's resolutions,
researchers find commitment is the secret of success

New Years Resolution Results