We all know that most New Year’s Resolutions have failed by the end of January. Yet every year we come face-to-face with the prospect of making—and breaking—resolutions. Again.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Because it is human nature to begin something new at a notable time signpost—like a birthday or the beginning of a new year. In other words, it’s normal and healthy to use the New Year to make positive changes. The problem comes when we try to fix too much all at once.
Changing ourselves is always possible, but never easy—and the more we try to change at once, the harder it gets. No wonder those grand resolutions fail so often.
Instead, we should embrace smaller, simpler, more achievable resolutions.
Studies show that we humans have better success when we make changes in small incremental steps. To put it another way, we are more likely to succeed if we inch toward our goal rather than taking a running leap and hoping against hope we can stick the landing.
For example: suppose you join the ranks of those who resolve to exercise more in the coming year. You might be tempted to buy yourself a gym membership and vow to exercise at least three times a week. A worthy goal, but one you are unlikely to keep unless you already exercise consistently. It is simply too big a change. Leave it as your ultimate goal and scale w-a-a-ay back until you arrive at a reasonable first small step. Something achievable today. Like maybe putting on your gym clothes and doing ten jumping jacks three times a week.
Really.
Ten jumping jacks.
If you accomplish that teeny goal consistently for several weeks you are on your way. It won’t be that difficult to take another tiny step. And then another.
No guilt, just a resolution you can keep.
Putting Simple Resolutions into practice
- Consider what goals or habits you would love to implement this year. (Go ahead and dream here, but be intentional and authentic about it.)
- Admit from the get-go that you cannot reach that goal all at once.
- Scale back your goal to one simple and achievable step.
- Take your small step today. Acknowledge your success!
- Repeat your small step tomorrow.
- And the next day. Yay for you!
- When you are ready, inch forward another teeny step.
Troubleshooting
- Some days you may be motivated to go way above your goal. Hooray for you, but do not raise the bar and expect yourself to hit that every day.
- Give yourself grace if you fail to hit your teeny goal on a given day. Some days are like that. Refuse the guilt. Try again tomorrow.
- If you consistently fail to accomplish your teeny goal than either it’s still too big or else deep down the goal isn’t really important enough. Either way, you have learned something. Make adjustments as needed and carry on.
If you want to win the Resolution Race, be a tortoise not a hare. Inching your way to your dreams is better than sprinting part way and then giving up. Go out and conquer a simple resolution today.
