Making Effective New Year’s Resolutions

I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.

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If you’re like most of us, you rarely keep your new year’s resolutions. Perhaps you have trouble with them because you make resolutions that are too ambitious. Or maybe you give up because immediate progress is hard to see. Whatever your reason, it’s possible to make adjustments in your approach until you get what you want.

To keep your new year’s resolutions, you first have to make the kind you can follow through on. Make effective resolutions that support you and lead you toward the destiny you desire. Create unstoppable momentum by creating resolutions that lead to small continuous victories. Focus on what kinds of things you want to make in your life. Do you want to lose weight, quit smoking, go back to school, write a novel, save half of your practice’s start-up costs?

There are all kinds of things you may want to do, both big and small. To get them done, however, you have to first get started. Here are the two major keys to making and keeping effective new year’s resolutions:

Making realistic resolutions

If you have a big goal, break it down into smaller bite-size chunks. Saying you want to write five books next year, lose 100 pounds, or get your 4-year degree are very worthwhile goals. They’re only attainable; however, if you break them down into smaller actions, you can accomplish them in real life. Instead of saying you want to lose 100 pounds by the end of December, for instance, aim for losing 8-9 pounds per month (or 2 per week).

Write down the actions you must take to write those books, lose those pounds, or get that degree. What one small action can you take today to move closer to your goal? Take that action and write down steps you can take each day for the next ten days. When you do, you’ll create unstoppable momentum toward the success you deserve.

When you decide what matters to you and break it down into small chunks that are easy to handle, you keep yourself from becoming overwhelmed. If you still feel overwhelmed, break your resolution down further. The big dream at the finish line will motivate you, and the small steps to getting there will keep you from feeling overwhelmed. Remember to reward yourself for each small victory. Keep reminding yourself about why you’re doing the things you’re doing. That way, you’ll stay motivated and excited throughout the year to come.

Keep your resolutions alive

Tracking your progress is vital to keep your new year’s resolutions successfully. Pay close attention to your progress, and make an effort, even when you want to throw in the towel. The only way to fail at new year’s resolutions is to give up. Notice what’s working and what needs to change in your approach, then adjust your tactics until you get what you want.

Setbacks provide excellent feedback that helps you to get on track. Let’s say your goal is to write a book by the end of the year. By the time you get off work, however, you have no energy to write. After about three days of very little to no writing, take that as your cue to try something different. Wake up an hour earlier and write before you go to work or hire a writing coach or co-writer.

Use your setbacks to set yourself up for an even more significant comeback. When you do that, you’ll get more accomplished than you expected to–even if you fall short of your goal. Above all, decide what’s important to you and go after it with all your might. When you do, you’ll begin to experience the fulfilling life you deserve.

Need help setting goals for the new year? Check out our blog to find out the 5 steps you need to take to for goal-setting success.

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