Each year, we wake up on January 1st with the best of intentions for the year ahead. We’ve got goals in mind and new planners open on our desks. Words from favorite podcasters and authors are echoing in our heads, preparing us to deliver on our objectives and make the most of the next 364 days. 

Then what happens? Well, you know what they say about good intentions. 

According to a survey from Statista, just 4% of us accomplish our goals and make our resolutions a reality by the end of the year. Most of us probably give up before we’ve really started. In fact, another study from Strava (an app for runners and cyclists) looked at user data to determine when exactly the average person gives up on their resolutions. They determined that January 19th is ‘Quitters Day.’ Though they were looking at resolutions focused on exercise, the same principle applies to resolutions of all types.

The first quarter is over. How are you doing? Did you abandon those January 1st goals yet? Don’t be too hard on yourself; reset and correct the course. Over the next few days, take the opportunity to make a new resolution. Make it a goal that will push you throughout the year and make a lasting impact once you’ve accomplished it.

Here are a few tips to guide you through the process.

1. Make It Personal: Why bother committing to an objective that doesn’t really mean anything to you? Our goals have to align with our values and who we really are. We have to feel emotionally invested in the outcome. If our goals and resolutions don’t mean anything, it’s far too easy to talk ourselves out of them. We’ve all probably learned that the hard way over the years.
2. Be Realistic: We have a tendency to look at New Year’s resolutions as sprints. We rush out of the gate and, before long, we’re exhausted. In reality, reaching your goals in the New Year is a marathon effort. Goals are best broken into small tasks with realistic timelines. When you can build on small successes, each day becomes a new opportunity to go farther. 
3. Learn From Failure: The statistics on New Year’s resolutions are alarming, but they have a silver lining. They suggest that just about everybody has tried and failed to accomplish a goal in the new year. That means we have a year’s worth of past failures to learn from. Reflect on why you’ve come up short in the past. What inspired you to give up on your resolutions? Make an effort to eliminate that kind of thinking and establish a new mindset. 
4. Build a Support Network: Holding ourselves accountable can be challenging. After all, nobody else has to know if we renege on our commitments or give up on our goals. It’s much harder to give up or let ourselves off the hook when we have a network of trusted peers to hold us accountable. Find an accountability partner or a group and make delivering on your goals a mutual objective. 
5. Take a Step Back: Self-reflection is everything when it comes to making steady, sustainable progress. At the end of each day or week, take time to reflect on the progress you’ve made toward your goal. What daily habits have you developed that support your efforts? What’s getting in your way? Don’t be afraid to change course or experiment with a new way of doing things. What’s important is crossing the finish line, not doing it in record time. 

Let’s Dream it, Brand it, Own it, and support each other in 2021 and beyond. If you’re interested in joining an accountability group or learning more about personal or team accountability, reach out to me at jan@gravitasdetroit.com