January is the perfect time to set New Year’s Resolutions only to see them fail by February.
The motivation to accomplish lofty goals at the start of the year disappears quickly.
It’s almost as if setting New Year’s Resolutions is a recipe for disaster.
Why is that?
The feeling you have after hearing a motivational speaker is the same as the beginning of a New Year. Inspiration is fickle.
Instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions, try creating new habits.
Habits are to goals as your journey is to the destination.
As an instant gratification-based society goals are sexier because you either achieve them or you don’t. But the downside of that is you’ll eventually fail. Once that happens the chances of you setting another goal decreases.
Habits are actually more controllable. They are based on effort, not results.
While goals depend on some variables you can’t control, habits are completely in your hands (take note Type A people!)
For example weight loss is a popular New Year’s Resolution (goal), but the equivalent habit is working out 3 – 5 times per week. People lose weight at different paces, but going to the gym multiple times a week is something you can track.
Most goal tracking apps for your smart phone are actually disguised as habit trackers. It makes complete sense because habits are much more manageable.
So this year instead of having New Year’s Resolutions figure out what habits will get your desired goals and set those instead!
Growing Forward 