Did you set a New Year’s Resolution? Have you set one before? Well, in the words of one of my co-workers, “How’d that work out for you?” Just because it didn’t work so well before is no reason to give up New Year’s resolutions for good. Maybe it’s just time for a different approach. 

Why Make a New Year’s Resolution 

When January 1st rolls around, it’s like a reset from the previous year. The slate has been wiped clean and all last year’s cares, concerns, worries, etc. are dropped on the doorstep at 11:59 p.m. on December 31.  

Making a resolution indicates that you are trying to improve your life or the lives of others. It’s a reason for optimism. A resolution is just a longer and stronger word for setting a goal. To be resolute, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, means to be “bold, steady, and marked by firm determination.” That sounds like something that needs a plan. 

How to Accomplish Your New Year’s Resolution 

It sounds easy to set your resolutions like “This year I’m going to lose 10 pounds, read two books each month, exercise more, and be more involved in my community.” And then... You start looking at what each one of those simple three-to-four-word statements may involve, and suddenly, the resolution becomes a lot more complicated.  

So, the first rule of making and keeping a New Year’s resolution is to pick one. Just because you’ve picked one doesn’t mean that you can choose more as the year goes along, but let’s pick one to set a pattern for success. 

The second rule to keep your Resolution is to write it down. Maybe write it down a couple of times – in a journal, in your daily planner, on a note you can put on your refrigerator, on a sticky note attached to your computer screen. Your goal, if you are serious about it, should be in places where you are reminded of it. 

Tell someone about your goal is the third rule for keeping your Resolution. A good friend, spouse, partner, or even a co-worker can help hold you accountable to your goal – and may even join in on your quest to make it a reality. We could say the “misery loves company,” but we’ve learned that “fun loves company, too!” 

The fourth rule is to make a plan to get to your goal. Many football coaches will script the first 20 plays of a game to help them gauge how the opposing team will respond in certain situations. That will guide them with their next series of plays. As you’re making your plan, think like a football coach. Your first goal is to make a first down with the ultimate goal of a touchdown. In other words, your goal is accomplished by meeting several other benchmarks.  

Celebrate your wins and don’t beat yourself up on losses is the fifth rule. If you meet a subgoal, tell someone, write yourself a note, pat yourself on the back. You need the positive feedback to carry forward. If you have a setback, don’t get down on yourself. To go back to the football analogy, a punt is not a bad play, it gives you a second chance to move forward in a better position.    

Stick to It 

An article in Limeade reports that 41% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions, but only 9% are successful in keeping them. Again, that doesn’t make it a bad thing to make positive goals. Science tells us that it takes about 10 weeks of repetition to adopt a new habit, so make every effort to get to March with your plan. If you make that, you’re well on your way to accomplishing your resolution! To learn more about how “habits” react in the brain, check out this video from Sci NC and PBS North Carolina. 

Keeping your resolution – or even accomplishing part of it – will make you feel good. Remember how you felt when you finished something that seemed impossible when you started? Well, here you are again! 

Are You in the Top 8? 

According to Statista.com, the top New Year’s Resolutions for 2024 are 

1. To save more money 
2. To exercise more 
3. To eat healthier 
4. To spend more time with family/friends 
5. To lose weight 
6. To reduce spending on living expenses (food, energy) 
7. To spend less time on social media 
8. To reduce stress on the job 

Other top resolutions include to read more, to drink less, to travel more, to get organized, to quit smoking, to learn a new skill, etc.  

So, if you see yourself in any of these resolutions, have you thought about combining one or more? For instance, you could combine reading more with getting more exercise. How? When you take the dog out for a walk or you just go out for a walk, put in the earbuds and listen to a book from Audible or Chirp. Or spending more time with family and friends can be combined with eating healthier by planning one or two meals each month with a lighter/healthier menu. You can add in a game of cards, Clue, or Yahtzee to extend your time together and to have a few laughs.

Whether you make resolutions or not, we hope 2024 is your best year ever. Happy New Year!