New Year, New Habits: Ditch the Failed Resolutions and Set Goals You'll Crush!
2024 is the year for reaching your ultimate goals! Use our free workbook to start planning your best year yet!
As the new year approaches, many of us start thinking about setting resolutions for the calendar year. Whether it’s to lose weight, write a book, or save money, setting resolutions can be a great way to make positive changes in your life. Many people, however, struggle to keep their resolutions. And by February, they’ve already given up. In today’s article, we’re sharing some solid tips on how to set resolutions that you’ll actually want to keep.
Examine the Past Year
Before setting new goals for the upcoming year, reflect on the past year. Did you achieve the goals that you set for yourself? If not, what prevented you from achieving them? By examining the past year, you can learn from your mistakes and set more realistic goals for the upcoming year.
Ask Yourself “What worked?” and “What didn’t work?”
Be honest with yourself when you check in on what worked and what didn’t in the past year. Don’t be afraid to admit your failures. Some goals may have been out of reach due to circumstances you couldn’t control. By doing this type of self-reflection, you can set more attainable goals.
Avoid Repeat Failures by Reframing Goals So You Can Accomplish Them
If you’ve failed to achieve a goal in the past, don’t give up on it. Instead, reframe the goal so that it’s more attainable. For example, if you’ve failed to write a book in the past, instead of setting a goal to publish your book this year, set a goal to write for a certain amount of time each day. By reframing your goals, you can set yourself up to achieve goals you may not have reached in years past.
Be Picky!
When setting resolutions, it’s important to be super selective about the goals you choose. Lean into a few goals that are important to you and that you’re passionate about. By doing so, you’ll be more motivated to achieve them.
Put Time and Effort into Planning Your Resolutions
Setting resolutions is not just about writing down a bunch of goals onto a piece of paper without any intentionality behind them so you could say you set goals. Be considerate and think through the goals you want to explore in the new year.
Also, take time to plan how you’ll achieve your goals. Write down the steps that you’ll need to take to achieve your goals. This will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the year.
Get Clear on What You Want, and Why You Want It
When setting resolutions, ask yourself what you actually want, and why you want it. Don’t just set a goal because it’s something you think you should do. Set a goal because it’s something you’re passionate about and that will bring you joy. By doing so, you’ll be more motivated to achieve the goal.
Limit Your Resolutions
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to be picky about the goals that you choose. Don’t set too many goals—that can become overwhelming and lead to failure. Instead, select a few goals to start the year with. If you complete those goals, you can always go back and add more resolutions for yourself.
Specify Your Goal
When setting resolutions, it’s important to be specific about what you want to achieve. Don’t just set a goal to “write a book.” Instead, set a goal to “finish a first draft by June 1.” By being specific, you’ll know exactly what you’re working toward, and you’ll be more motivated to achieve it.
Break Goals Down into Smaller Goals
Once you’ve come up with your specific goals, break them down into smaller goals. This will help you stay motivated and make progress toward your larger goal. For example, if your goal is to write a first draft by June 1, break it down into smaller goals like “write three chapters by the end of January” and “write six chapters by the end of February.”
Track Your Progress Throughout the Year
If you track your goals, you’re more likely to achieve them. The reason for that is because your goals are always top of mind. It helps you stay motivated and see how far you’ve come. Make sure to track your progress throughout the year, whether it’s through a journal, an app, or a spreadsheet.
Get 1% Better Every Day, According to the Book “Atomic Habits”
In James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, the author talks about the concept of getting 1% better every day. This means that you focus on making small improvements every day, which will eventually lead to big changes. By focusing on getting 1% better every day, you’ll be more likely to achieve your goals.
How can you break your bigger resolutions down into tiny habits you can accomplish every day?
Remember, Progress Over Perfection
Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up or don’t achieve your goals as quickly as you’d like. Celebrate your progress and keep moving forward. Remember, small improvements every day will eventually lead to big changes.
Final Thoughts
Setting and achieving resolutions can be a powerful way to make positive changes in your life. By reflecting on the past, being picky about your goals, planning how to achieve them, and tracking your progress, you can set yourself up for success. And most importantly, remember that progress is more important than perfection. Focus on getting 1% better every day. With these tips in mind, you can make 2024 the year that you crush your resolutions and achieve your dreams.
Are you ready to write your book this next year? Tell us in the comments!
Free Workbook Download!
I created an easy-to-use workbook to help you reflect on 2023 and start planning your goals for the new year. I know many of you read our weekly Substack articles for writing, publishing, and book marketing advice, and I believe setting achievable goals is the launching point to find success in each of those areas.
The Planning Your Resolutions workbook is available as a free download. Once you download the PDF, you will be able to print out the entire workbook and start planning your best year yet! I hope this guided journal will help you write down and plan your writing and book publishing goals right alongside the other goals you choose for the next year.
Upcoming article: Unwrap the Secrets to Writing a Festive, Holiday Novel
Have a productive writing week 🖊️
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