Why I Resolve to Have Goals vs. Resolutions

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible
-Tony Robbins

It’s hard to believe the first month of 2019 is coming to an end. I must admit I’m a little behind the times as I did not make a list of resolutions to be effective January 1^st. But I have my reasons. In fact, it’s a simple reason – I don’t like resolutions.

In the past I would make a list of resolutions, and that’s where the resolutions ended. I made a list and maintained excitement for maybe 90 days (if I was “really” committed). By the summer, my resolutions were a thing of the past.

Since we are into a new year, I decided to move away from resolutions and move towards goals. By Merriam Webster’s definition, a goal is the end toward which effort is directed. To say it in my own words, a goal is a specific target that is realistically achievable within a defined amount of time. With that definition, setting goals should be easy, right? Well, setting goals may be easy for some, but for me, it’s been a month long process. I went through the following 3 step process to develop my goals.

Finding My Purpose

I wish setting goals was as simple as typing them out on my laptop. Before I could even get started, I needed to do my homework. My homework involved a lot of self-thought and even self-assessments. This seems pretty involved, but I needed to build a foundation. I needed to find out the why aka my purpose. I didn’t answer the question what’s my purpose in life, but I did need to figure out my purpose for making a change in certain areas of my life. Once I started defining purpose for my goals, my goals started having a new importance.

Setting an Intention

Every goal needs a conscious intention to do something. The thing with intentions is you need to be specific. Losing 5% body fat can be more specific by providing a deadline or timeframe. Keep in mind your timeframe should be realistic to your situation. Yes, a fad diet can help me lose weight quickly, but I want this to be a lasting change.

Now I realize I may need to have checkpoints to reach my weight loss goal. Keeping track of this goal will not only be the number on the scale. Body fat percentage reductions, a lower clothing size, or even better cholesterol numbers are good checkpoints to see if I’m moving in the right direction.

Being Accountable

One of the hardest parts of sticking to a goal is staying on track. Having a purpose, a strong will, and solid intention is great, but sometimes you need some additional support. You may need someone to hold you accountable to reaching your goals. This person can be a spouse, friend, mentor, or coach.

Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who have similar goals as you is another way to hold yourself accountable. In my case, I got my husband to join me on this weight loss journey. Instead of keeping this a personal goal, we made weight loss into a couple’s goal. Throughout this year, we are both working towards the same thing. We can hold each other accountable and keep each other on track.

Having an accountability partner is helpful, especially in those times when life throws you a curveball. It would be great if things went according to the plan, but life doesn’t work out that way. Your accountability partner can help keep you focused on your end goal.

If you haven’t already made some goals for this year, hopefully these tips will help you set your goals. If you’ve already broken your resolution, why don’t you try making a goal? See if that works out better for you. Drop a comment below with one of your goals!