Rethinking Resolutions

Each year, I find myself in the cycle of setting ambitious New Year's resolutions, only to see them gradually fade away as the year progresses. Despite refining my approach annually, success has always seemed just out of reach.

But this year, I've decided to break the mold and tackle this challenge differently. I am excited to introduce my new strategy: 12 months of 30-day resolutions. While at first that might seem like I've learned nothing from past experience, this framework actually on intentionality and lived experience and can be distilled into a number of key themes:

1. Embracing Goal-Setting with Ambition

My approach is rooted in the powerful impact of goal-setting, especially when the targets are ambitious. Setting high goals propels us forward, providing a clear direction and a sense of purpose. This year, I'm not just aiming to improve; I'm aiming to transform.

1. The Power of Specificity and Measurability

A critical aspect of my new strategy is ensuring that each goal is specific and measurable. Vague aspirations often lead to ambiguous results. By setting clear, trackable objectives for each 30-day period, I can monitor my progress and maintain my momentum. This clarity is a game-changer in sustaining motivation.

1. Consistency Over Intensity

I've realized that consistency trumps intensity when it comes to forming lasting habits. It's more important (and powerful) to create a consistency streak than to do something well but without forming habits. Instead of a single, intense snapshot goal for the entire year, I'm focusing on creating sustainable practices. This approach is more likely to result in permanent changes, embedding these resolutions into my daily life.

1. The Feasibility of Short-Term Goals

Goals that require long-term compounding are often daunting and easily derailed. A missed week in a year-long fitness goal, for instance, can be demotivating. Moreover these long-term goals often require compounding, so a missed week doesn't just set you back one week, but maybe forces you to start over.

But breaking down big goals into small ones changes things. A 30-day goal is different from a year-long milestone. It's short, achievable, and doesn't compound. Missing a day or two doesn't spell failure; it's still a 93% success rate, keeping the overall objective within reach. But with 12 short-term goals, I'll have still set an ambitious overall target for 2024 - one that I can be proud of at the end of the year (with 12 chances to succeed).

1. The Only Constant is Change

I believe that variety can be beneficial to goal-setting when structured correctly. Monolithic, year-long goals can become monotonous and overwhelming. In contrast, twelve smaller, diverse goals throughout the year maintain excitement and interest. This approach not only makes the process more enjoyable but also offers twelve opportunities for victory, compared to the traditional two or three.

1. Accountability drives Achievement

Of course, any goal, no matter how well structured, can falter without accountability. This is where you come in to help me achieve my goal through share liability. Your role is to keep me honest, ensure I'm tracking my progress, and provide encouragement. But I also need you to challenge me when I falter. Your support and scrutiny are crucial in making this experiment a success.

With that, here are my 12 New Year's Resolutions for 2024!