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Resolutions vs. Goals: Why New Year’s Resolutions Are a Thing of the Past

By Sara H

Ah, New Year’s resolutions—the perfect excuse to promise ourselves that we’ll finally hit the gym, eat healthier, or learn that foreign language we’ve been putting off. Yet, much like the boxes in my basement that are still packed (three years after we moved into our new house), most resolutions are left untouched by February.

So why do we cling to this tradition? Perhaps it’s time to rethink our approach and embrace the power of goals instead. Let’s explore why New Year’s resolutions might be a relic of the past and how goals can lead us into a more successful future.

Why resolutions don’t work

I always thought it was because I was a major procrastinator. You know the lie we tell ourselves… “I thrive under the pressure of waiting until the last possible minute!” Then I realized that there was a connection between my procrastination and the resolutions I would make every January, and I felt like an utter loser by the beginning of March.

Let’s face it: New Year’s resolutions are like those flashy infomercials you stumble upon at 3:00 a.m. — full of promises but often short on results. (And why am I up at 3:00 a.m.? Putting off my resolutions, of course!). According to a study by the University of Scranton, a mere 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions. That’s right, folks, your chances of successfully keeping a resolution are about as slim as winning the lottery!

And then I discovered that…Goals Work Better

Goals are specific, measurable, and time-bound, making them more effective than resolutions, which are broad and often unrealistic. Setting goals involves breaking down the desired outcome into manageable steps, allowing for incremental progress and adjustments along the way. They are the detailed instructions that guide us toward that sweet success. There are even online and offline methods for helping with goals. And don’t forget; you can always plug your goals into ChatGPT or some other AI and help you write them in the SMART format!

Online Methods

  1. Digital Goal-Tracking Apps: Apps like Trello or Asana can help organize tasks, deadlines, and progress.
  2. Virtual Accountability Groups: Join online communities or forums to share your goals and receive support.
  3. Online Courses and Webinars: Use platforms like LinkedIn Learning or Udemy to gain new skills related to your goals.

Offline Methods

  1. Vision Boards: Create a collage of images and words that represent your goals to serve as a daily visual reminder.
  2. Journaling: Write down your goals and reflect on your progress regularly.
  3. Accountability Partners: Choose a friend or family member to check in with regularly about your progress.

 

Practical Tips for Implementing Goals

  1. Be Specific: Instead of “get fit,” set a goal to “exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week.”
  2. Start small: Plan for the next logical step, not the result. (Save the result as the daydream of what success looks like!)
  3. Set a Timeline: Give yourself a deadline to create urgency and motivation (but balance that sense of urgency with overwhelm)
  4. Be honest with yourself: You know what a stretch is and what is too much (or too little) right now. If you’re using the words “someday” or “right now,” you might be on one end or the other of that teeter-totter!
  5. Celebrate Milestones: To maintain motivation, reward yourself for reaching small goals along the way. (I’ve found that the more you excel at #2, the better off you are here. Just make sure the reward is proportionate to the achievement!)

As we prepare to flip the calendar to a new year, let’s consider leaving New Year’s resolutions behind and embrace the clarity and structure that goals provide. Goals offer a practical framework for success, allowing us to achieve more by focusing on specific, actionable steps.

Think on this

  • What goals can you set to make a real difference in your life in 2025?
  • How can you blend (or do you need to) online and offline methods to support your goal-setting process?

Embrace the power of goals and watch as your dreams transform into reality! And if you just want to put off setting them for a little while, take 14 minutes to watch this TED Talk on procrastination, and you’ll never look at goal setting the same way again!