The start of a new year often brings with it the tradition of making resolutions. We set ambitious goals to show our commitment to personal and professional development. But only a resilient 8% persevered through the entire year by some measures.
It’s a shared experience – the initial surge of motivation can dwindle. By some estimates, as many as 80% of people find their New Year’s resolutions slipping away by February.
What if instead of hoping to complete our New Year’s resolutions, we made it impossible to fail?
The easiest way to do that is to examine the common reasons we don’t achieve our goals and mitigate them.
Why We Don’t Stick to Our New Year’s Resolutions
- Lack of Clarity: Many resolutions are vague or aren’t actionable. They lack the specificity required for us to execute on them.
- Unrealistic Expectations: Setting lofty and impractical goals can set us up for failure. Unrealistic expectations may lead to frustration, demotivation, and the abandonment of the resolution.
- Poor Planning: Failing to create a well-thought-out plan is a recipe for disaster. A resolution without a concrete strategy is like embarking on a journey without a map. It’s easy to lose direction and motivation along the way.
- Lack of Accountability: It’s easy to abandon resolutions without a support system or someone to hold us accountable. A lack of external motivation can make it challenging to stay committed.
- Fear of Failure: The fear of failure, or not meeting one’s own or others’ expectations, can be paralyzing. This fear often prevents us from taking the necessary steps to achieve our goals.
- Overlooking Obstacles: Life is unpredictable. Unforeseen challenges can derail even the most well-intentioned resolutions. Without a plan for overcoming obstacles, we may succumb to setbacks.
- Neglecting self-care can lead to burnout. Prioritizing resolution-related tasks at the expense of self-care can lead to burnout. Neglecting mental and physical well-being can undermine our ability to sustain long-term efforts.
- Lack of Patience: Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are lasting habits. Impatience can lead individuals to abandon their resolutions. We forget that sustainable change takes time.
- Failure to Adapt: Rigidity in the face of unexpected changes can be detrimental. Resilience and adaptability are crucial for navigating the twists and turns of the journey toward achieving resolutions.
- Lack of Intrinsic Motivation: External motivations, such as societal expectations or peer pressure, may not last long. Resolutions are likely to crumble without a genuine, internal drive to change.
In these early days of the year, take a moment to reflect on the incredible power within you to shape your destiny.
The journey ahead is not ONLY about setting goals; it’s also about building resilience. It’s about cultivating a growth mindset and fostering a commitment to lasting change. The initial surge of motivation is only the beginning. Success lies in maintaining that momentum and navigating the inevitable challenges.
When you’re ready, there are a few ways I can help:
First, join 30,000+ other Six Sigma professionals by subscribing to my email newsletter. A short read every Monday to start your work week off correctly. Always free.
—
If you’re looking to pass your Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt exams, I’d recommend starting with my affordable study guide:
1)→ 🟢Pass Your Six Sigma Green Belt
2)→ ⚫Pass Your Six Sigma Black Belt
You’ve spent so much effort learning Lean Six Sigma. Why leave passing your certification exam up to chance? This comprehensive study guide offers 1,000+ exam-like questions for Green Belts (2,000+ for Black Belts) with full answer walkthroughs, access to instructors, detailed study material, and more.