There is something symbolic about the new year. It feels like a chance to start fresh and go after your goals. People seem to be more motivated to improve their health with 12% of new gym sign-ups happening in January. In the UK January brings an increase in new businesses launched with a 10% increase seen in January alone. It also seems to be the time that people search for love. Match.com reports that Dec. 26- Feb.14 marks their busiest time.
So it’s clear, January is a time when people are feeling motivated to start fresh, be their best selves, and go after their goals.
Unfortunately, some reports show that only 4% of people report actually following through on their goals. So where is the disconnect?
The Top 3 Reasons New Year’s Resolutions Fail
- One of the biggest issues with New Year’s resolutions is that they aren’t specific enough. One of the top reported goals was to improve one’s overall health. As wonderful as that sounds, what does it really mean? Do you want to cut out red meat, decrease your intake of wine or workout out twice a week?
- The goals aren’t realistic. Your goal may be to save $200,000 (yes I have heard this from clients), but you are making $80,000 per year. Everything is possible, but many things are unlikely. So when you pick a goal that isn’t reasonable, you are more likely to give up before it happens.
- You aren’t willing to put in the work to get there. Bear with me, I know this sounds harsh and trust me I understand. I have a coworker who has 6 pack abs. As much as I would love that to be my reality, I am not going to make my goal to have 6 pack abs by March. You know why? Because I know that I am not willing to work out the amount of hours it would take to achieve it. However, I am willing to work out several times a week and slowly work on improving my overall health. See where I’m going with this?
I spent years writing out New Year’s resolutions that I never followed through on, despite having the best intentions. After several years of no results I decided to switch it up and create a new method. Now I love goal setting! In fact, there is a vision board method that is extremely effective. It has helped me sustain a brick-and-mortar business for the last 11 years, write a best-selling book in under 90 days and get my blood pressure down without medication. I just needed the blueprint.
So how do we follow through on our goals?
- Yup, you guessed it! First is to get specific. Break down your big goal into smaller goals that are achievable. For example, if your goal is to eventually go vegetarian, a great way to start is with Meatless Monday for all of January. Then expand that to 2 meatless days per week by February. Continue to do that until you have reached your goal.
If you want to save a certain amount of money, break it down so that you know exactly how much you need to save each week in order to reach your goal.
Let’s say your goal is to launch a business, break that down into categories such as getting clients, registering your business, creating your website, and so forth.
Not only does this make it achievable, but you will also feel really good as you continue to check goals off your list. You will automatically be motivated to keep going!
- The next step is to be realistic. Only you know what you have the capacity to do. Believe in yourself, know that you are capable of anything, but also recognize that different goals take different amounts of time to achieve. If you want to launch a million dollar business it will probably take years. So January’s goal could be to get your first client.
- The final key is to be willing to put in the work. That could mean staying consistent, hiring a coach, having an accountability partner or all three. You will need to determine what is necessary for you to achieve the things you desire. Just know that if you remain focused and diligent your odds of success will dramatically increase.
Fitzhugh Dodson said, “Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination”.
It is not easy to make changes in our lives. It takes hard work, determination and relentless pursuit of our goals. However, it is for those very reasons we feel so much better when we achieve them.
“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going” – Earl Nightingale.
By Natasha Ickes-Saman
