How Do I Choose The Right New Year’s Resolution?

As we approach the New Year, many of us have started to think about our New Year’s resolution. During the holidays, we are excited and optimistic that this year will be a good year, so in this context, we choose a New Year’s resolution with the best of intentions. Fast forward one month and 36% of us will have already abandoned our goal. By the middle of the year, only 46% of people will still be working on their resolution.

There are many reasons for this. Some people’s motivation fades with time, some get discouraged as soon as there is a small setback, others fail to plan ahead, and most people keep their resolution to themselves. Therefore, they aren’t accountable to anyone. But, in my opinion, the main reason we fail is because we do not choose the right goal in the first place.

Lose weight, stop smoking, start a new sport, learn something new, find a soul mate... every year it’s the same thing. We either choose a goal to fit in or to impress others. Because of this social weight and tradition, we feel pressured to choose something. Most of us do not put the necessary time and reflection to choose the resolution that is right for us.

This year, to reach your resolution, follow these guidelines to choose New Year’s Resolution that is right for you. 

How Do I Choose The Right New Year’s Resolution?

Make it Simple

Choose a resolution that is simple and that you think you can achieve with reasonable confidence. It can be risky to suddenly take on too much since it can often end in disappointment. Opt instead for an easy goal, so that you can get to success faster and use that confidence to achieve other things. Going step by step is more important than going fast.  

Choose something you can control

Whenever possible, find a resolution whose achievement depends entirely on you. These goals are often easier to achieve, and they allow to establish a more direct link between your actions and our progress towards that objective. The best is to choose a goal that can be repeated every day, for example running every day.  It is faster to incorporate into a daily habit behavior instead of a weekly or monthly habit.

Choose One Resolution At a Time

Each of us have several things we want to improve, but it’s better to choose initially only one thing to improve and make it our unique goal. We have limited energy and to choose more than one goal is to scatter our energy. It’s better to focus on one thing and then to fully dedicate ourselves to it for a time. Do not make a bucket list. There is nothing that prevents you from choosing a new resolution once you reach your first. The mistake that many of us make is to choose a goal that will take the whole year to realize. Instead, you should focus on what is more important, and then choose a second goal once the first one is complete.

Make it Part of a Bigger Goal

You have to start by choosing a resolution that is right for you. It needs to be consistent with your values, your project and your goals in life. Take the time to ask yourself what your goal in life is. The goal you choose has to be important to you. How many of you have a clear idea of where you want to be ten years from now? Start with that.

The most important thing is to take the time to choose the right goal for you. The latest study also shows that you can increase your chance of achieving your goals by sharing it with others. So, once you find the goal that is right for you, we have built a free tool to help you share your goals in three easy steps.  So, try it out and let us know what you think!