3 Tips For Crafting Anti-Resolutions This New Year

Because resolutions are a joke, self-improvement isn’t

“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” –James A. Froude

A brand new year. It’s time to pop some confetti and celebrate the journey you’re on.

Crossing into a new year is like waking up on a brand new day, but amplified many times over. A blank canvas just waiting to begin marking. Things that you do, or don’t do, will forever be marked on a canvas with a tiny mark on the lower left corner. That mark, ‘2014' will tell a story for many years and will be filled with immense importance to you and those around you.

This fresh perspective is a great opportunity to improve and motivate yourself into doing new and exciting things, which ultimately puts you on a path to happiness.

The Resolution

Given a blank canvas, it’s reasonable to think about what you want to do with it. But how you approach it matters. I’m sure you’ve crafted a few resolutions before. Do these ring a bell?

• Lose Weight
• Improve Financial Budgeting
• Get a New/Better Job
• Eat Healthy
• Stop Procrastinating

You’re thinking in a positive direction, but there are major problems with resolutions like this. The devastating problem is that success isn’t measurable so you’re going to feel disappointed the moment something goes wrong… for the rest of the year. What you’re saying is that you wish to lose weight or to find a new job, but that self-defeating.

“Go to the gym every Monday before 6:00 AM”

We’re adding a few specifics, but there are still lingering issues. If you miss just one Monday, you’ve failed. You’ve also added the pressure of being at the gym at 6:00 AM. What happens when something you didn’t foresee affects your ability to go?

You’re disappointed. You feel like a failure. Resolution busted.

The Anti-Resolution

What I’m really talking about is something we can measure. Something we know is realistic and attainable. Something specific. Remove resolution from your vocabulary and start thinking about goals for the new year.

“Run 100 miles”

Let’s say you’re a runner and you really want to improve your milage. This year you’ve tracked with your handy Nike+ SportsWatch that you ran 40 miles and feel 100 miles should definitely be achievable next year.

The good news is that this is measurable and something that can be worked on when you choose to. If you finish the year at 70 miles you can pat yourself on the back. If you miss a week, that’s fine, you can make it up later in the year. How about if you crush it and run 200 miles? Let me give you a high five!!

3 Tips For Crafting Goals

So let’s craft some goals! I have made my fair share of them through the years and have learned a few things along the way. Self-improvement is something I am always striving to do. There are plenty of interesting things to set my eye on to improve and enhance life.

1. The goal must be measurable

We want to create situations that just can’t flat out fail.

Turn “I will read more” into “I will read 4 books”
Turn “I will donate to a good cause” into “I will donate $20/mo for 6 months”
Turn “I will go to the gym more” into “I will go to the gym 3 times a week”
Turn “I will learn the piano” into “I will practice piano 1x a month for 6 months”

If you end up reading 8 books, donate $30/mo for 12 months, go to the gym 5 times a week or practice the piano 3 times a month for the entire year? Fantastic! I’m sending you an epic high five.

You should strive to exceed the goals, but don’t sweat it if you don’t.

2. The goal must be specific

How are you going to achieve the goal you’ve set out to conquer?

• If you want to learn the piano you may need to buy a piano or find an instructor.
• If you want to begin saving a certain amount of money a month, you may want to outline that you’re going to do that by using an envelope system.
• If you really want to start reading more, and you know that you have a hard time reading books, you might plan to use Audible.com.

3. The goal must be written down and visible

Writing your goals down is the most important step that you’ll take with all of this, and I don’t mean in a document stored online.

Out of sight, out of mind. Write your goal down on a 4x6 blank note card and stick it on your fridge. When you wake up the following morning, grab your cup of coffee, and as you begin thinking about the day your eyes will wander toward the fridge. Easy reminder.

Bonus: The goal should be shared with a friend or loved one

I’m beginning to have a strong appreciation for creating goals with Megan. We both set out to create several goals for the year and put them on our fridge. Over the year we’ll frequently talk about how our goals are going and it tends to help motivate each other.

Apparently, we’re not alone. Research suggests that you’re 33% more successful in accomplishing goals when you send weekly updates to a close friend.

What are you waiting for? Thank you for reading. Now go and create at least 3 goals now (I try to put together 10 goals for the year).

Have a great year!

Book Rec: The Magic Lamp: Goal Setting for People Who Hate Setting Goals