Resolutions Or Goals?
It’s That Time Of Year When People Start Talking About Their New Year’s Resolutions.
As I am sure we’ve all experienced, the hit/miss rate on a resolution can be a toss up. Why? Because resolutions are often broad and vague without a clear path to accomplish them.
Resolutions tend to be something like “I want to stop doing X” or “I want to do more of Y.” That’s a solid start, but what about the process to follow through and achieve the resolution?
I have read surveys that state that 68-83% of people who set New Year’s resolutions quit them by February 1st each year.
Why Is There Such A High Fail-Rate On Resolutions?
- They are unrealistic
- There was no progress tracking
- They were forgotten
- Too many resolutions were made
A “resolution” is a firm decision to do or not do something.
On the other hand…
A “goal” is the object of a person’s ambition or effort – an aim or a desired result.
A goal provides direction to follow to achieve a desired outcome – the involved intention setting, planning and preparation.
Goals Are More Actionable, Which Makes Them More Effective.
So if you take a common resolution like, “I want to get in better shape in 2022” and turn it into a goal like “I will lose 15 pounds during 2022,” you now have something specific enough that you can track it, measure it and set a plan to achieve it by taking specific actions each day, each week and each month.
I Bet The Goal Success Rate Is Far Better Than The Resolution Success Rate.
So if you have a resolution in mind, the idea behind your resolution is probably spot on. But, I suggest you think about how to connect that resolution to a goal so you can increase your personal accountability with a clear path to a higher success rate.
Along the same lines…
It’s A Fallacy That New Year’s Is The One Time Of Year To Set Resolutions Or Goals.
Change begins when you want it to begin. Pick any day you want. Change can begin on 1/1/2022 or any other date when you are ready to commit.
When we set goals, we grow in the experience of the process to achieve them through the routines, processes and habits we create. The cherry on top comes when we achieve the goal.