New Year’s Resolution Review: How Are You Doing?

Your intention was to start the year off with a bang. You made all the necessary plans to ensure that this was going to be the year that you made big changes and saw big results.

However, most people either forget about or give up on their New Year’s resolutions by February. Does this sound familiar? This has been a very unusually hard year for many people with COVID everywhere. On top of the normal challenges, finances, work issues, kids not in school and the fear of premature death of loved ones has piled on the stress.

Resolutions are tough enough, but all of this stress makes it much more challenging.

My advice is: do not be too hard on yourself. If you couldn't do the "big" things, start with a little thing or two and be happy with a little progress.

Even if you’re one of the masses that aren’t on track at this point, there’s still plenty of time to pull out a win. You don’t have to wait until next year to try again. The first of the year is just another day. Today is just as good a day as any to start again.

This year can still be the most amazing year of your life!

Try these techniques to stay with or get back on track with your resolutions:

1. Evaluate your behaviour based on your resolutions. Think about your resolutions and consider your behaviour regarding those goals.

●     How are you acting in ways that are supportive of those goals? For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, are you choosing your foods wisely? Are you exercising?

●     How are you acting in ways that are counter to your goals?

●     How are you basing your decisions on your goals?

●     How often do you plan your day with your goals in mind?

2. Evaluate your results based on your resolutions. How much progress have you made? How many pounds have you lost? How much money have you saved? How close are you to achieving your goal?

●     How long is it going to take to reach your objectives based on your progress so far?

3. Be honest with yourself. If you’re failing, why? When did you start getting off track? What is the reason for your lack of progress? What could you have done better?

●     If you’re doing well, what improvements can you make?

●     Do you still want to achieve this goal? It’s fine if you don’t, but that’s a good sign that it’s time for a new goal!

4. Make a new plan if necessary. Make a new plan if you’re struggling. See if you can make an even better plan if you’re ahead of schedule. Set milestones and review your progress toward those milestones at regular intervals.

5. Predict the obstacles. Consider the obstacles you’ve already faced and consider new obstacles you’re likely to encounter.

●     Have a plan in place to deal with those issues if they arise. Obstacles are less intimidating if you already have a strategy in place for dealing with them.

6. Gather your resources. Think about everything you’re going to need to be successful this time.

●     How much time will you need each day?

●     What knowledge do you need to acquire?

●     Whose help do you need?

●     What personality traits and attitudes do you need to possess?

7. Reevaluate on a regular basis. Avoid letting yourself lapse this time around. Schedule a time to sit down and evaluate your progress. This might be nightly or monthly, depending on your goal. Think about what will work best for your situation.

8. Don’t give up. If your goal is even remotely reasonable, you’ll eventually succeed If you keep trying. You’re guaranteed to fail if you give up.

●     Remember: Successful people are bold, and they don’t give up.

It’s common for people to give up, or forget about, their New Year’s resolutions by the time February 1st rolls around. Even if you fall into that category this year, there’s no reason to lose hope.

Every day is a good day to start taking your life seriously and commit to making real progress.

Give yourself the privilege of a reset and start again. Use what you’ve learned in the last month to make a more effective plan going forward. Send a little kindness to yourself, you deserve it!