Don’t Set Resolutions

What’s the biggest mistake we make with resolutions? We need to set GOALS, not resolutions.

• What’s a resolution? Resolution is a statement of something you want or don’t want to do.

• What is a goal? A goal is a specific, action-oriented target you aim to achieve. Goals have a completion date, along with steps leading toward the completion date.

Here’s an example of a resolution vs a goal.

Resolution: “I want to be healthier/improve my health in the next year. I will eat better and exercise more.”  This is a statement of changes you’d like to achieve but it doesn’t define the steps or how you will achieve this.

Goal: “I want to be healthier, so I will exercise three times a week for 30 mins and I will eliminate processed foods from my diet.”  In this example, you share clearly defined steps of how to achieve your goal.

And once you have a goal, you will work to achieve it—it becomes concrete and actionable. And it’s easier to hold yourself accountable to something that’s concrete, and not abstract.

So if you want to achieve your resolutions, SET GOALS instead, and work towards them.