It's April and 2023 is well underway. Our Jets are already about to start week #3 of the 2022-2023 4th quarter. So how are those New Year's resolutions you made four months ago going?
About 67 million American adults made resolutions to improve their health in 2021. By July of that year, 41% of them were not on track to reach their top goal.
Why do so many people abandon their goals? Or keep trying but fail to hit their target?
A key factor is how you perceive your resolution from the get-go. Stoking excitement and visualizing success in early January is not enough. You also need to think about the bigger picture and draft a practical roadmap to guide you. People who reach their goals are more likely to think about the "how" than the "what." They focus on the process to get there.
A second key factor as you continue to pursue your New Year's resolutions is to keep refining your daily or weekly actions by running experiments and assessing the results. How do you stay on track when you're tempted to give up?
Here are some simple suggestions for both students and adults:
1. Climb Each Rung To Resolution
Imagine that you are climbing a ladder as you set forth to make your resolution come true. You advance rung by rung. For example, if it was a weight loss goal, then shift your attention to "mini-goals" that will help you ascend to your big goal (e.g. sugar cutbacks, regular exercise, drinking more water).
2) Get Specific With Resolutions
Make everything measurable. Attach a due date to each action step and get started right away so that you don't race to catch up at the last minute. TIP—Begin and finish each day by reviewing your written goals.
3) Brace For Turbulence
The best New Year's resolutions don't rely on rosy assumptions where everything falls into place. Problems and setbacks in life occur more often than we would like. Therefore, identify three scenarios that can stymie your efforts and plan against them. That way, you are prepared if adversity strikes.
4) Cultivate Allies
You're more apt to abandon a resolution if critics and naysayers influence you. So choose your company with care. Look for positive, nurturing, nonjudgmental people. Associate with those that will encourage you and make yourself somewhat accountable to them—keep them apprised of your progress.
5) Resolutions: Bounce Back
Pursuing an ambitious goal tests your grit. Success comes to those who persevere after inevitable defeats or disappointments. After the first slip or second slip, don't give up. Your ability to persist is essential in making your dreams come true.
6) Separate Past From Future
If you've struggled with a New Year's resolution before, don't let your rocky history define you. Get outside of your own fears and apply "future thinking." Look for signals of how the world is changing and ask yourself, "How might these patterns and signals affect my goal?" TIP—Remember that successful people love change, whereas the unsuccessful do everything they can to prevent change. So, keep an eye out for what might be changing to help you achieve your goals.
