7 Ways To Set Goals You Will Actually Keep: Part 1

It is resolution season! According to Wikipedia, a New Year's Resolution is a promise to either start doing something good or stop doing something bad beginning the first of the year. 

A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success at the beginning. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as, a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends. source

So how can you bet the odds and actually keep your resolutions? In this two part blog post series, you'll get practical advice that works!

I call resolutions goals because if at their bones, that's what there are. So these tips will work if applied to any goal, any time of year.

1. Make goals that are truly meaningful to you!

Make sure you are not setting goals because it will look good to other people or because you think you "should". If you make a goal that you don't care about, you won't keep it! It doesn't have to be important to anyone except you.

Sometimes our goals are set for us by our work. In those cases, we have to get creative on how to make an external goal meaningful. 

2. Make goals that you can actually do! 

Resolving to retire at 35, when you are 34.5 with NO savings isn't a doable goal. Goals have to be actionable items. If you can't actually do your goal, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration!

3. Consider your personality!

There are so many ways to categorize your personality. MBTI, DiSC, etc. No matter which you prefer, use it to help you set goals in a way that compliments your personality. Goal setting by its very nature favors the organized. If you are not organized, like me, find a goal setting method that doesn't punish you for being disorganized. I set my goals according to an overall theme I have for the year. This gives the spontaneous side of me the freedom to choose goals throughout the year that are in line with a theme instead of pre-planning my year.  You are more likely to stick to something that compliments you!

4. Be flexible!

Life doesn't always go according to plan. We give up on our goals because the situation isn't ideal. It is silly to bank on the best case scenario. It is wise to be flexible about how to refocus on a goal when the path isn't going according to plan. Reframing would be an excellent technique to try in that case. Lighten up when it goes off track. Beating yourself up never helps!

Want help setting, reaching, or reframing your goals? Contact me for free!

Consider these tips and let me know if setting goals was easier for you this year!