New Year’s Resolution? Try these more helpful things instead

As the clock ticks down to December 31st and the new year is quickly approaching, many of us find ourselves making New Year’s Resolutions. Be honest with yourself; how has this gone for you in the past? Chances are you’ve broken them. And that’s okay! It is well known that significant behaviour change doesn’t usually happen overnight. No one is perfect, and you shouldn’t expect to be.

If you’re overwhelmed or sick of setting lofty ambitions and finding yourself unable to stick to them, this article is here to help! Instead of relying on a traditional New Year’s Resolution, consider these alternative strategies designed to help improve self-esteem, create positive habits and make positive changes in your life that will actually stick.

Resolutions vs. Goals

What is a resolution?

A resolution is a promise made to yourself to make changes and improvements, often at the start of a new year. Every year as the holiday period ends, people worldwide make resolutions with good intentions and high expectations of results. The problem is that this process is at odds with human nature; therefore, these resolutions are challenging to keep.

What is a SMART goal?

A goal is an objective that you set for yourself to achieve over a period of time. It can be anything from learning a new language, starting a business, or getting fit and healthy. Goals are essential for motivating us to reach our full potential and create purpose. Goals should be SMART – that is, they should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

For example, you may want to “get fit this year”. How will you know if you have achieved this goal? How long do you plan for this to take?

The SMART alternative may be to “be able to run 10km in under an hour by the end of July”.

This goal is SMART because it is:

• specific (10kms in under 60 minutes), 
• measurable (you can measure both the result and your progress), 
• achievable (allowing six months to reach this level is realistic), 
• relevant (this involves cardiovascular and muscular fitness) and 
• time-bound (you want to have this done by the end of July).

You can see from this example how much more helpful a SMART goal is than any old vague statement.

Benefits of SMART goals over resolutions

Goals, particularly SMART goals, are more helpful than resolutions and have a greater likelihood of success.

Goals allow you to make specific plans for what you want to achieve and break down those plans into manageable steps. A plan or outline helps hold you accountable and motivates you to complete each step. Goals also allow flexibility if something isn’t going as planned or life events get in the way; they can be easily adjusted while still striving towards that original intention set at the beginning of the year. Goals leave you feeling empowered and in control, whereas resolutions can feel like a last-minute attempt to compensate for your previous perceived failures. 

Since it is difficult to measure progress on the way to succeeding with a resolution, and since many resolutions are open-ended, there is less motivation through visible progress as compared to SMART goals.

Timing isn’t as important as you think

Although the most popular time to make resolutions (and now, for you, SMART goals) is at New Year’s, there is no benefit or advantage to this timing for most of us. The same goes for any other time of the year, outline your goals and plans for reaching them whenever you need to and are ready to do so. March, August or any other month is just as good for planning and progressing towards your goal!

Other Different strategies

Maybe the standard goal-setting method doesn’t enthuse you this year, and that’s okay too! If you want to do something but aren’t ready to make an entire SMART goal, try one of the following strategies instead.

Make a new year bucket list

Rather than a resolution or SMART goal, make a ‘New Year Bucket List’ instead. This list should include specific activities or experiences you would like to do in the upcoming year, from taking a cooking class, hiking more trails, or visiting somewhere new. Making a bucket list allows you to focus on having fun and planning in more manageable chunks throughout the year. Brainstorm some ideas of things you would like to do this year, listing them on paper or in a digital document. Add this to your planner or stick it on your wall so it remains front of mind.

Monthly challenges

Monthly challenges are an ideal way to help make changes that stick throughout the year. They help form better habits, keep your goals fresh and exciting, and can be adapted to suit any lifestyle.

Monthly challenges offer greater flexibility than just making one big resolution at the start of the year. With smaller, monthly goals, it’s easier to focus on one specific goal at a time rather than becoming overwhelmed by tackling several more significant commitments all at once. Plus, there’s always next month to try again if you fall behind or miss your target for this month.

Gratitude and Mindfulness

Why not consider exploring ways to cultivate gratitude and mindfulness in your everyday life? Gratitude involves noticing and being thankful for positive things in your life and has been associated with increased happiness and wellbeing. Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of the present moment and is beneficial for anxiety, concentration and mental health. Incorporating gratitude and mindfulness into daily life can also lead to increased resilience, calmness, contentment and improved relationships.

Help others

Helping those around you can often lead to a deeper level of happiness and fulfilment, and there are several things you can do to focus your efforts on assisting others. To start, consider donating time or money to local organisations in need. Charities and non-profits are always looking for volunteers or generous donations to improve the lives of people in the surrounding community. You could also bring attention to causes you care about by creating a fundraiser or participating in events that benefit underprivileged individuals or families.

Goals in a jar

The “goals in a jar” technique is an easy way to set yourself up for success in the new year. This strategy involves writing down many goals or intentions on small pieces of paper, folding them, and placing them in jars with labels like “career goals” or “health goals.” This simple method allows you to mix and match your priorities as life evolves throughout the year. Best of all, you can track your progress by removing each slip after you complete that task or goal. Having a concrete visual record is excellent motivation on days when you want to give up! For additional inspiration, have a board where you pin goals you have achieved.

Make a vision board

Creating a vision board is an effective way to help set goals and motivate yourself for the New Year. With a bit of creative flair, you can make a personalised board with visuals to inspire you on your journey.

This process starts with reflecting on what matters most to you in life. Ask yourself questions like ‘What do I want to achieve this year?’, ‘What parts of my life are the most important?’ and ‘What values or qualities do I want to nurture?’. Once these thoughts have been laid out, collecting images and words representing your intentions will give further clarity and direction. Printed photos, magazine clippings or even pictures found online all work great! Finally, arrange these visuals like a collage onto a large piece of paper or foam board, allowing flexibility when changing designs. Stick it all down and hang it on your wall for a daily reminder of your priorities.

List of things you are looking forward too

Creating this list can be a way to understand your priorities better and identify what you need to do to be ready for these events. These events could include a holiday, a friend’s wedding, a family occasion, or even the next New Year’s celebration! Keep this list handy throughout the year, so you always know what the next big fun thing is.

Conduct an 80/20

An 80/20 is based on the Pareto Principle – for most events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Applying this principle to goal setting means focusing only on activities that yield results and ignoring those that don’t. This means spending your energy where it will be most effective and efficient in helping you achieve what you want. You can double or even triple your effectiveness when working towards your goals by identifying activities with higher success rates and participating in these more often.

Conclusion

With the start of a fresh new year, many make resolutions to set goals and change their lives; however, New Year’s resolutions often don’t lead to lasting change or meaningful results. Instead of setting a traditional resolution this year, why not try something different? Many listed alternatives may be more helpful, fun and effective in the long run.

And remember – if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your goal or challenges arise along the way, take time out for yourself and reset with self-love and self-care.