New Years Resolution: Align, Lead, Do Less
What is the point of New Year's Resolutions?
It’s that time of year - the gyms are still nice and full post-break, everyone has high expectations of themselves, big goals and commitments to make the year ahead a great one. A year that they thrive, kick goals and better their lives.
I’m not really one for new years resolutions. We all know how it goes - you start off with the best intentions, aspirations to achieve your big goals, to better yourself and make progress. Developmentally it sounds great, right? So why is it that by mid-February so many of these big goals have fallen to the wayside?
That’s the critical version of me talking. The more curious version of me is interested in what we are trying to achieve when we set a New Year’s Resolution, and how to make it happen.
With a feeling of a fresh start, resolutions are generally set to make progress on big goals and keep on track throughout the year.
So what gets in the way? Why do so many of us fall off the wagon by February?
I think there are many reasons this might happen, and if I reflect on my own experience, some top reasons might be:
Setting unsustainable standards - things that don’t actually fit into my life
Committing to things with no greater vision or purpose - easy to fall off if it doesn’t feel like it really matters or has a “WHY”
Committing to things that I don't actually want to do, or change that I am not really ready to make
So how do we pivot and enable our New Year's Resolutions, or 2024 goals, to succeed?
How do we set goals and resolutions that enable progress?
Purpose first.
In the words of Simon Sinek, Start with WHY. Take some time to understand the greater purpose behind your goals, why are they important? Why do you want to make progress on these things specifically? What will be different if you succeed?
You want to get healthier/fitter - Why? (longevity, energy, to carry the groceries from the car in one trip)
You want to spend more time with your family - Why? (you didn’t last year, you love doing it but haven’t prioritized it and want to build stronger relationships)
You want to try new hobbies - Why? (meet new people, try something new, bring excitement and adventure into your life).
Get clear on how you will achieve your Why.
If you have started with your purpose then you have likely opened up more options of how to achieve it - eg. If your greater purpose is to meet new people, you might not have to join a social sporting team and risk your ACL (I may be speaking from experience here…). Maybe there are more ways you can head towards that purpose?
If you want to get fit and healthy, maybe the gym isn’t the only solution. You might find other activities that get you moving that fit into your life better.
So what will help you make progress towards that thing you want, time with the people you love, something for yourself, your health, your career. What are the few ways you can move closer to that?
Identify the loss.
A critical phase we often miss when setting ambitious goals - what will you need to let go of if you are to make progress on your goals? What are you willing to let go of?
If you want to prioritise your health, what will you have to miss out on? What time will you have to sacrifice to make it happen?
If you want more time for your family or friends, where will this time come from? Are you willing to give up other commitments to make space for it?
Test and learn.
Things change, you can make progress without rigidity. That’s where your Why helps. Test out what works and what doesn’t. Learn from your progress and your roadblocks.
