The new year is a new beginning, a fresh start and everything is full of hope. Celebrations light us up, moments shared with family and friends keep our spirits up and everything seems achievable. This is probably why most people decide to make New Year’s resolutions, a commitment to themselves and a kind of promise to get better. However, although energy and motivation are initially high, over time we lose track and lose our way. But why is that so? That said, here are some reasons why people often fail to achieve their New Year’s resolutions and what can be done to fix them. Setting unrealistic goals A goal is about what you want to do rather than what you ‘should’ do. People either set goals that are too difficult but quickly become unattainable, or they set goals that are relatively easy but quickly become boring. It’s important to review your resolutions to see if they are achievable. Are they quantifiable? Are they limited by time? Are they specific? Are they aligned with your goals? Is it possible to divide them into smaller parts? Can they be achieved within the time frame you have set? Remember that to stay determined, you must change your behavior, so make sure your goals are reasonable. Lack of Accountability Working with a coach, mentor or accountability partner ensures that there is always enough energy and motivation to help you get better, accomplish more and have more. Because success is a science, we can be sure that if we follow these steps we will achieve our goals. Avoid people who drain your energy when choosing an accountability partner, and instead work with people who uplift and encourage you, especially when you feel discouraged. No signs of progress Sometimes being aware of your progress is what gets you through. What gets measured gets done, and what gets done can be improved and made into a habit with the help of a good tracking system. Many apparent barriers are based on assumptions, inferences, judgments, overthinking, and previous reference points. A track record is helpful in developing consistency in the solution. No need to plan Good planning is always needed to execute well. It’s more realistic to plan your action steps around the solution, break them into smaller chunks, and schedule them on a calendar. Bite-sized weekly goals and plans create a sense of accomplishment rather than, “Oh, I have the whole year to myself, I can always start again next month when I have more time.” . Planning also ensures that all necessary adjustments are outlined in advance, along with an understanding of potential challenges. This increases your chances of success, especially when it comes to long-term goals. Self-doubt and lack of confidence in “yourself” Don’t let past failures determine your future. After you learn from your failures, it’s time to get to work. Every small win should be celebrated because it motivates you to work harder for bigger wins. Self-criticism or doubt doesn’t help because it focuses all your attention and energy on “why can’t I do this?” As you progress, practice gratitude, compassion and love for yourself and don’t let a small setback or disappointment turn into permanent failure. Remember that progress is better than perfection and if you believe in yourself, you can achieve a lot with planning, execution, learning, seeking the right help and coaching. Continue; you are not alone! It is important to be mindful, responsible, stay committed and direct all focus on the alignment of energy, mindset and action to stick to one’s New Year’s resolutions. Start with an image of your future self in mind; Make that image big and bright, feel it deeply, and keep it as a daily reminder. Don’t be too hard or too easy on yourself and most importantly, enjoy the process of change and transformation. Remember, winners and losers have the same goal; it is what one does to fill the ‘space’ in between that makes the difference. (With inputs from IANS)
