New Year’s Resolutions Blog

Choosing a New Year’s Resolution

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

The New Year is coming soon, which means it is time to begin thinking about your New Year’s resolution. While some think choosing a resolution is much easier than attempting to keep it, the goal you set at the beginning of the year has as much to do with your success as anything else.

That’s why we at New Year’s Resolutions Blog have created this helpful guide to choosing a New Year’s resolution you’re sure to keep. It follows a simple, four-step plan:

The four steps to choosing a resolution:

1. Choose a two-word resolution
2. Include numbers and dates
3. Define how you are going to accomplish your resolution
4. Add why you want to achieve your goal

The Two-Word New Year’s Resolution

The first step in defining your New Year’s resolution is to articulate as simply as possible what it is you want to accomplish. For me, this means stating my goal in two simple words.

Stating your resolution in two words helps you make your resolution both simple and exact.

Simplicity - Your two word resolution is simple by nature. “Quit smoking,” “lose weight,” “go green,” and “learn French” are all examples of common 2 word resolutions.

Exactness – A two word resolution also forces you to be exact. For example, the resolution “lose weight” could also be stated as “look hot,” “get fit,” or “drop 20.” What is the most exact form of your two year resolution? This allows you to think about what precisely you’d like to accomplish.

Use numbers and dates

Once you have your two-word resolution, you’re ready to give your resolution more meaning. The best way to do this is to inject numbers and dates into your resolution.

Let’s take the common resolution of saving money. “Save money” would most likely be your two-word resolution.

Now it’s time to add some numbers and dates.

Example:

My New Year’s Resolution is to save $2000 by the end of the year.

This not only gives you a concrete goal ($2000), but also provides a deadline to accomplish it (December 31.)

Some more examples:

Lose weight –> Lose 25 pounds by August 1, 2009.

Go green –> Work up to at least 1 “green” act a day (biking to work, setting out recycling, use reusable bags” by March 1, 2009.

Define How

Next, you must define how you are going to accomplish your goal. This ensures that your goal is realistic and that you have a definite plan for your success.

To do this, simply add “by ____________” to the end of your resolution. Remember, this is another great place to use numbers!

Let’s go back to the weight loss goal. So far we have:

Lose 25 pounds by August 1, 2009.

Now it’s time to add the how:

Lose 25 pounds by August 1, 2009 by joining Weight Watchers and walking with my husband for 40 minutes every night, 5 nights a week.

Of course, your resolution does not have to include every little thing you’re going to do to succeed. It does, however, help you define the one or two things you think will be the biggest factors in your success. It gives you specific things you can do on a daily or weekly basis to keep you on track. Consider these things (Joining Weight Watchers, walking) as important as achieving your goal (losing weight.)

Remind Yourself “Why!”

If you’ve followed the above steps, you probably have a pretty good resolution, with your definition of success, lots of numbers and dates, and a simple plan for success. The last thing you need to do is add why you have chosen this resolution.

The “why” part of your resolution acts as a motivational tool when you’re losing steam. Ready to add the final piece of your resolution? Just add “because I ____________”

The finishing touch:

Example:

Lose 25 pounds by August 1, 2009 by joining Weight Watchers and walking with my husband for 40 minutes every night, 5 nights a week, because I want to be healthy for myself and my family (and look great in some new jeans!)

Make sure that your “why” is about YOU. You don’t want to set out on your new year’s resolution to accomplish something for someone else (because my boyfriend thinks I will look better, because my dad wants me to buy a house, etc.). Your resolution should be for you, and adding a “because I” statement to your resolution is the best way for your to articulate your personal motivation.

Get started – send us your resolution!

Now that you have the four steps to setting a great New Year’s Resolution, it’s time to define yours. Remember to follow the formula:

Two-word resolution + numbers and dates + how + why

Once you’ve set yours, submit it to NewYearsResolutionBlog. We’ll post your resolution, so our online community can provide encouragement and support.

Coming soon… Jump Start Your Resolution.

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