Don't Make Any New Year's Resolutions

I know. I know. This runs counter to all of the messaging you are getting and even to the advice I typically give — my favorite word is "yes." But there is a good reason that at the end of a year not even one in 10 people has kept their resolutions. That’s right. Like dieting, New Year’s resolutions don’t work. And like dieting, they should be left behind in the New Year.?

What does work? Little realistic goals that you can achieve all year long, regardless of the time of year.

I will give you a small example from my own life. When I moved to California from New York ten years ago, my daily movement ground to a screeching halt. In New York I had walked miles each day without giving it a thought. But when I moved to a driving city, I suddenly found that I had to be intentional about getting exercise.

On vacation with my family this week I promised myself I would walk at least 10,000 steps a day. Now this is certainly not a lofty goal, but it was an achievable one, and on day five, I am proud to say that I have been reaching it each day and I am motivated to continue. Because you know what? As embarrassing as I feel admitting it, 10,000 steps is significantly more than my daily step count over the last year. And if I had listened to that voice that said, “You are on vacation for a whole week, 10,000 isn’t enough, aim for 20,000,” I would have already dropped the goal. 10,000 was a number that marked a giant improvement from my typical daily habits, yet it was a goal I could attain.

So instead of a lofty New Year's proclamation, I recommend identifying a small improvement that you can make using these three steps.

1. Start small.

2. Make it achievable

3. Celebrate your wins.?

This way you won't fall into the New Year's goal trap but you will ease into the improve your life path and continue. Make this year about small but meaningful goals all year long. I will be rooting for you!

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