Where did all of the new year’s resolutions originate? A fictitious Roman king assumed the role of calendar head in 153 B.C. King Janus was endowed with two faces—one to reflect on the past and one to anticipate the future. Janus, the god of beginnings, gave the first month of the year, January, his name, and he became the symbol of resolutions for the new year.
Making and breaking resolutions As a result, at the beginning of each calendar year, millions of people around the world set goals to achieve, though the exact date varies by region. Additionally, there are those who break them and those who succeed in achieving them each year. Which group do you belong to?
Look back to last year and the list you made:
- How many goals have you ticked as being achieved?
- How many have come back onto this year’s list?
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” Einstein’s brilliant quote encourages us to look back and learn from the past, enjoy the present and create the groundwork for the future.
Have you made your resolutions for this year yet?
Perhaps you have a concise list of your goals and changes. The following well-liked resolutions may serve as a starting point for you if you are still looking for ideas or haven’t had time to consider them:
- live a healthier lifestyle
- earmark more leisure time
- go for a promotion, apply to a new employer, or even change your career
- be more assertive, learn to speak up for yourself
- put some money aside, despite the challenges of today
- become more organised and feel in control of your life
- overcome a fear of public speaking and become a fantastic presenter
- contribute to the community
- support the environment, save the planet
“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.”
– Ellen Goodman
Barriers vs success
It’s one thing to make a resolution and another to make it work. So, what might stop you from succeeding? Are your goals unrealistic, are the tasks to reach them too time-consuming or too difficult, are they impossible to fit into your lifestyle, have you made too many goals, or are not sufficiently committed to them? Here is a useful checklist for success:
- Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable, so you don’t shoot yourself in the foot before you even begin.
- Make your goals specific, not general, and vague.
- Make sure the tasks involved in achieving them or not too onerous – so you can fit them into your lifestyle.
- Avoid making too many goals, better to have one or two and succeed, than make five that stay on the list only to come back in 2024.
Great goals
Here is an example of how to make a great resolution or goal:
- General resolution: ‘To have more leisure time’. Now make it specific…
- Specific resolution: ‘To finish work on time to make way for leisure’. Now make it time focussed.
- Time focussed: ‘To see family on Sundays and go out with friends in the evenings.’ Now make it more realistic, so it fits into your lifestyle.
- Realistic, specific, time focussed: ‘To see family for Sunday lunch and meet friends on Tuesdays and Fridays.’
Apply this process across your goals.
Keep promises to yourself
It is difficult to keep all or any of your resolutions, regardless of how enthusiastic you are at the start of the year. You can keep going with these suggestions:
- Make sure your goals are specific enough and realistic for you and your lifestyle.
- Review your goals in mid-February – once routines are well back to normal.
- Set yourself start and finish dates.
- Have a realistic number of goals – then prioritise them, making your top priority your starting point.
- Get started – it’s a tremendous boost to have moved forward.
- Set times and dates to work on your goals and stick to those appointments.
- Break tasks into ‘bite size’ chunks – they’ll be much easier to start and continue.
- Write everything down – you’ll clear your head for creative thoughts and problem-solving.
More tips
When a resolution or goal is complicated, make specific plans for how you’ll accomplish it, including a list of your responsibilities and time in your schedule to work on them. You won’t be able to achieve your goal if you wait for the right time to start. Start now.
Don’t tell people who will make you feel bad or make your plans look bad. Tell people who will cheer you on. You need more than just a great idea, though many people have them. You will achieve your goals if you are organized, devoted, and persistent.
Intentions or goals? Help is at hand
Having trouble getting started? Want a plan and encouragement to stay focussed? NLP training and life coaching can help you to define, maintain and achieve your resolutions. To find out more or to arrange an appointment, get in touch with me.
