How to Crush Your New Year’s Resolution Like a Rock Star

Oh yes, it’s that time again…the end of one year and the imminent start of a fresh new beginning as we head into 2016. And what does that mean for many of us? Yup, New Year’s Resolutions!

But who are we kidding? Since when do your resolutions ever last longer than a week or two? Then it’s back to the same ol’ same ol’ as we settle back into our usual routines. Why does this happen every single year?

First off, it’s absurd to think that we’ll suddenly change habits just because the calendar changed. We need a heck of a lot more motivation than that! So it’s no wonder that once we’re halfway through January the shiny newness of the year starts to wane and takes with it our incentive.

Secondly, most New Year’s resolutions are grandiose goals that require radical change in our lives. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for having big dreams and goals. But the way to achieve them is not through radical change – it’s by taking small steps consistently and making change incrementally over time. (For more on making lasting change click here.)

Finally, we often don’t take the time to really think through our resolution – what we want and why. We usually just make a relatively spur-of-the-moment decision that we’re going to do something differently as the New Year looms large.

So how do you set some New Year’s resolutions that you’ll actually stick to and achieve in 2016?

Be specific about what you want. Let’s take losing weight as an example, since it’s a common resolution. It’s not enough to just say you want to lose weight. How much do you want to lose – is it 5 pounds, 10 pounds, or some other number? You need to define your goal with specific parameters so that you have a way of measuring your progress.

Be clear on why you want it. Once you’ve set your specific and measurable goal, ask yourself why it’s so important that you achieve it. This is such a crucial part of the success calculation because your why is going to be the driving motivation that keeps you engaged and working on your goal even when you have days when you just want to skip it. (For more on why your why is so important click here.)

Get in touch with how you want to feel. Often, we think that when X happens and I am successful, then I’ll be happy. But it doesn’t work that way. In fact, that equation is backwards. We have to feel happy first, and then we’ll experience success. So think about the feelings you’ll have when you achieve your goal and start focusing on feeling them now. The sooner you feel the way you want (and you do get to choose how you feel), the sooner you’ll experience success in pursuing your goal.

Develop a step-by-step plan to get there. So you’ve taken the time to get clear about what you want, why you want it, and how you want to feel. Now you need a road map for how to get there. This is where incremental change comes into play. If losing weight is your goal, it’s not going to be realistic to eat like a bird for the first week of January nor is committing to an hour every day at the gym if you haven’t worked out for the past six months. So start small and build.

Plan out the small ways you can start to integrate your new behavior or habit into your life and put it on your calendar. Maybe it means going to the gym three days the first week and working out for 15-20 minutes. Then, increase the number of days you go or the amount of time you spend there the following week. By easing into your new habit and taking small steps it means you can be consistent and stick with it over time.

Now that you’ve done your prep, you’re ready to take action. Your New Year’s resolution is no longer a fleeting thought that lasts for a few days. It’s now a real goal, driven by your own personal why, and you have a step-by-step plan for how to achieve it. Per, Nike, you’re totally ready to Just Do It!

Happy 2016! What New Year’s resolutions are you going to develop using this process?

Please let me know by sharing your comments below or on my Facebook page.

With gratitude,