Why is it So Hard to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution?
New year, new you, right? Many of us start the new year with great intentions — eating healthier, exercising more, or consuming less alcohol. Yet, for some reason, motivation often fades and consistency becomes harder to maintain. One reason this may happen is that our goals weren’t created in the SMARTEST way possible.
S – Specific:
Create a goal that clearly defines what you want to accomplish. For example, “I want to be able to run three miles each Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday.”
M – Measurable:
How will you know if you’re making progress or have achieved your goal? Your goal should be quantifiable, such as how much weight do you want to be able to lift, how far do you want to run, how many times per week do you want to volunteer, and/or how often do you want to eat fruit and vegetables?
A – Achievable:
Whatever goal you choose needs to be realistic. If you’ve never run in your life and want to complete a marathon in under three hours by next month… well, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Creating achievable goals increases the likelihood of success and can boost motivation as you continue your growth journey.
R – Relevant:
Your goal needs to align with your wants, needs, and/or belief system. This part of goal-setting is emphasized further below when discussing Significance.
T – Time-Based:
Set a deadline. This could be one final deadline or several smaller milestones along the way. Having a timeline creates urgency and can help reduce procrastination.
E – Educational:
Base your goal around the ways you want to grow and learn. Pro tip: Read Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck to better understand the importance of a growth mindset. This highlights the importance of focusing on learning and improvement rather than only the end result.
S – Significant:
The goal has to be meaningful to you. If your goals are based solely on what others value, they may be harder to sustain. Take time to explore the life you want to live, how you want to feel in the future, and what truly matters to you and let those values guide your goals.
T – Toward:
Creating goals that move you toward growth tend to be more motivating than goals focused on avoiding a behavior. For example, instead of saying, “I don’t want to go to the bars anymore,” you might reframe it as, “I want to volunteer two nights a week.”
After outlining your goals, be honest with yourself about potential roadblocks — such as time or financial constraints — and brainstorm ways to work around them. Remember, progress matters more than perfection. Doing something, even a small step, is always better than doing nothing. Good luck!