Here we are, almost halfway through the calendar year, and many of us are still diligently pursuing our New Year’s Resolutions. For those of you who are still taking your yoga classes, or have learned basic phrases in Mandarin, or are still making the effort to be bolder in your risk-taking, good for you! But for the rest of us who somehow stopped practicing our resolutions don’t fret. They can be difficult to stick to. Maybe you just don’t have the right inspiration, or maybe you didn’t pick the right goal. Whatever the reason, you’re in good company. Here are a few reasons why people don’t follow through on their resolutions, and perhaps you’ll gain some insight on how to achieve your goals on the next go-round.
1. Too Big of a Resolution
Some resolutions like losing weight or learning a new activity are too broad and can take months to achieve. If your resolution is too big, you might not be able to focus on it and eventually let it go thinking it is too hard to achieve. Try making simpler and more focused resolutions such as losing 5 pounds in 2 weeks or learning how to play one song on a guitar every month.
2. Not Personalizing your Resolution
If your resolutions are not personalized to you, it’s easy to find an excuse to get out of the resolution and forget about it. To achieve a goal, you need to want it to the point where you understand that you need to spend time and effort to pursue it. Try answering questions such as, why do you want that resolution? And how will you feel when you achieve it? These will help you be clear about the significance of the resolutions so you can achieve them.
3. Not Writing Them Down
To understand you resolutions, it helps to write them down. If you don’t write down your resolutions, they will remain vague and that will end up in poor results. Describe the resolutions in detail and state why you want to accomplish them. Having a concrete idea of your resolutions will result in successful outcomes.
4. Insufficient Resources
Having resolutions with no resources on how to achieve them will be a problem. Whether you need advice from a fitness trainer, or need to take classes, it is important to find resources that will help you achieve your resolutions.
5. No Plan For Success
A New Year’s Resolution is about achieving a goal, and having a plan on how you are going to achieve your resolution is important. Try making a plan with realistic expectations, steps, and procedures on how you are going to accomplish your goal.
6. Lack of Motivation
To follow through on your resolutions, you must be motivated. Many times, people don’t understand why they want to achieve these goals. Understanding why you want the goal will help provide motivation to follow through.
7. Lack of Support
Not having a support group can make it hard for one to achieve goals. Support is necessary to help get through tough times and you will have a greater chance of success if you have family and friends who support your goals. Talk to people in your life about what you are trying to achieve and see how they can give you both moral and tangible support.
8. Having No Accountability
Accountability creates a mood of responsibility and discipline. If you are accountable for your actions, you will more likely have a need to achieve your goal. Tell your family members and friends what your resolutions are going to be and make yourself accountable for the results. If you publicly announce your goals, you will have a greater desire to attain that goal.
9. You Can’t See your Resolutions Everyday
Even if you write down your goals, you can still forget about them. Put your resolutions in a place where you constantly are reminded about your goals. Try posting your list of goals on your desktop or in your email. You will create a physical environment that will help you realize your goals.
10. Not Reviewing Your Resolutions Periodically
You have to keep reviewing your resolutions to check up on your progress. This is a good way to remember all the goals you need to achieve and if you have not been able to achieve a goal by a certain time, you can take a break and evaluate what you did wrong and figure out new steps on how you can fix it. Check your progress every month and make a new plan if necessary. Even if you don’t achieve 100% of your resolutions by the end of the year, you will achieve at least 70% or 80%, which is better than giving up on your resolutions which equals to achieving only 0%.
My3Goals was established to connect people who want more from life with the coaches and tools to get there. My3Goals is a great way to follow through with your New Year’s Resolutions. The site offers coaches with great advice at your fingertips. You can post goals in your profile and fellow members can join these goals as well so that you will build up a great support network. Read inspirational articles and blogs written by experts in the field. See and share amazing videos, links, and photos that will keep your spirits up and motivate you to reach your goals. Take action! Ask a question. Start a blog. Join a group. Start a self paced learning program. You’re never alone. There are coaches, experts, and other members of the community to help, so join My3Goals today!
All the best,
Tavishi Agrawal
& Margo Winton
My3Goals Blog Manager