Ah, New Year’s resolutions. It’s that time of year again. People promise themselves that they’re going to make big changes in their lives, like losing weight, but this is usually followed by weeks of self-loathing and disappointment when nothing seems to change as quickly as we want it to.
Sound familiar?
If so, you’re not alone. In fact, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail.
So, instead of making generic goals for yourself (like “I will exercise more” or “I will save money”), why not try something different this year?
Here are some ideas that actually make sense.
Don’t set vague goals for the whole year.
If you set large, vague goals, you’re likely to fail. Instead, break down your objectives into smaller timeframes and focus on achieving them one step at a time. For example:
- Set a goal for each month instead of an entire year. Months have an average of 30 days, so this means you can accomplish a few tasks per month (depending on the task) without feeling overwhelmed.
- Set long-term goals for years or decades into the future, but keep them flexible. And make sure that you’re doing something every day, no matter how small, to reach your big, ultimate goal.
For example, if your goal is to lose 24 pounds this year, break it down. Don’t just say, “I’m going to lose 24 pounds this year!” Have a plan. Twenty-four pounds broken down is just two pounds per month, which is very doable. Focus on the smaller goal, and it will lead you to the bigger goal.
Make a list of things you want to try, and do them.
A list of things you want to try is a great way to capture all those New Year’s resolutions that you didn’t make. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have had a thousand ideas and then forgotten half of them before January 1st rolls around.
I recommend using a notebook or even a folder on your phone. Each time one of these ideas pops into your head (or out of your mouth), write it down. You might include:
- Going skydiving
- Taking up archery
- Horseback riding
- Trying new foods once a week for six months straight
Don’t be afraid to fail, don’t worry about what other people think, and don’t be afraid to try something new. If you don’t like it, try something else!
That’s right: No goals or aspirations or resolutions are needed here. Just take life as it comes and experience all the things that are out there for you this coming year.
Think of these life experiments as low-risk ways to grow your creativity, curiosity, and courage.
There are so many ways to try these experiments.
- You can explore a new place in your city by taking a walk through a park or neighborhood you’ve never been to.
- You can go on a road trip with friends and family, visiting places you’ve always wanted to visit but never had time for.
- You can try being more creative in your everyday life, whether it’s cooking an unusual meal with ingredients from your pantry or writing something new every day—a poem, a list of things that make you happy, etc.
And finally, creativity grows courage: If we’re able to think outside our comfort zone and create something new within ourselves by doing these different things each week (like writing poems), then we’re much more likely to be brave enough to face other challenges that come up in life.
Instead of making resolutions at the start of the year, focus on continuing to grow throughout the year.
Focus on growth, not resolutions.
There’s nothing wrong with making resolutions and trying new things at the beginning of a new year.
But let’s be honest: if you’re like most people, your list is going to look a lot like last year’s list, and the one from the year before that, and so on for several years in a row (or decades).
That’s because when it comes down to it, we need something more substantial than New Year’s resolutions in order for us to change our habits for good.
We want our lives to improve every day—and not just on January 1st!
Sure, there are some days when we’re feeling especially motivated or simply excited about life. But these moments don’t always happen when they should—and they certainly shouldn’t be used as an excuse not to work toward true growth throughout the rest of the year.
So, instead of making New Year’s resolutions at the start of each calendar year, focus on continuing your journey toward living a more meaningful life by trying something new every single day! And make sure you take time every few weeks to reflect on how far you’ve come.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution and failed, don’t worry. We’ve all been there!
But the next time you feel like starting over, consider trying one of these life experiments instead. You’ll be amazed at how much more empowered, happy, and fulfilled you’ll feel as you focus on smaller goals and experiences rather than big, vague goals.
And remember: You don’t have to wait for a new year to change your habits. Start today, wherever you are.
