So, how are your new year’s resolutions going?
No, that’s not a trick question, but I’m guessing I know the answer.
Don’t worry, I’m not here to make you feel guilty.
In fact, you’re not alone because approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February.
I know, I know. You had the best intentions.
This year was going to be different.
You started the year feeling super optimistic and motivated, absolutely certain that this was the year you’d crush your resolutions.
And then, real life kicked in, and before you knew it, your motivation began to dwindle and sticking to your resolution(s) just felt too much like hard work.
January put down its roots, which if you’re in the UK or most other places in the Northern Hemisphere means cold, dark, damp days and often, empty pockets.
Not the best foundation for maintaining commitment and enthusiasm.
So, it’s no surprise that by this point in the year, most people have already thrown in the towel.
But don’t despair.
All is not lost.
You can still dust off those resolutions and get back on track.
Think of January as your test run; your free trial.
Now, you know how your resolutions fit (or not) into your everyday life.
You have a better idea of what works and what feels challenging.
With some reflection and a few tweaks, you can renew and reset your new year’s resolutions.
Instead of considering January as a failed attempt at your resolutions, think of it as a research period where you gathered valuable feedback on what really works for you.
How to Renew and Reset Your New Year’s Resolutions
Here are 5 questions that can help you to renew and reset your new year’s resolutions:
1. Are you being too ambitious?
Now that you’re back into the swing of normal life, have you taken on too much?
If you only succeeded at one resolution this year, which would mean the most to you and have the biggest positive impact on your life?
Tip: Start small and focus on one resolution at a time.
2. Are your resolutions too vague?
If you have resolutions such as “be healthy”, “lost weight” or “read more” your chances of succeeding are slim.
Mainly because you have no real way of measuring your progress. This is important because if you feel as though you are not making progress, you’re more likely to quit.
Tip: Set more specific goals such as “reduce takeaways to once a month”, “lose 2 stone” or “read one book a month”.
3. Are you clear about your “why”?
Why did you choose your resolutions and what is your motivation for achieving them?
If you succeed at your resolutions, what difference will they make and how will they change your life?
According to Simon Sinek in his book, Start With Why
When you are clear about why you are doing something, you’re more likely to be successful.
Tip: Get crystal clear on why you are committing to your resolutions and what positive contribution they will make to your life.
4. Are you doing it alone?
I get it. There are plenty of nay-sayers out there waiting for you to fail and so you may not feel comfortable sharing your resolutions with others – you know, just in case you “fail”.
However, this is also the reason you should declare your goals out loud because it holds you accountable and it’s likely that you’ll try harder to honour your commitment and declaration.
There are plenty of people in a similar position as you who share the same goals.
Working with someone else to renew and reset your new year’s resolutions not only helps you to stay motivated, but it also makes you accountable to someone other than yourself. This reduces the chances of you cheating or giving up.
Tip: Find a buddy, coach or support group who either share similar resolutions or who will hold you accountable to your goals.
5. Are you being too hard on yourself?
You’re human.
There will be days when you fall off the resolution wagon.
A week when work is crazy and your resolution slips down your list of priorities or a vacation when all bets are off.
It’s not ideal, but let’s be honest, it’s what happens in real life.
Accept it and don’t chastise yourself for it – but also, don’t make it your reason to quit completely.
You know the drill, renew and reset.
Tip: Acknowledge when you slip up, review what was happening (relationship issues, busy workload, time of the month, etc.) then get back on track.
Treat this week like it’s the first week of January.
Dust yourself off, take some time to reflect on the 5 questions above then get started again, with renewed focus, clarity and commitment.
And remember, this is something you can do regularly throughout the year.
You can reset and renew your new year’s resolutions at any time.
What is your most important resolution for this year and why?
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