The most commonly expressed definition of insanity is doing the same thing time and time again and expecting different results. As a society, there are likely several ways in which we are “insane” according to this definition; however, one abundantly clear behavior most of us engage in as individuals relates to the New Year’s resolution. Every year we set goals and every year we abandon them, and then every next year we look fondly ahead to the opportunity to start anew at the chance to finally accomplish the goal.
We all know the drill: It’s the first week of January and your usual treadmill at the gym is always taken. Similarly, liquor stores are probably a bit less crowded and grocery stores are selling more healthy foods and less junk. By March, these statements will be less true. By June, most of us can’t even remember our — as I often call them — January Resolutions. In fact, some research indicates that as few as 8 percent of resolution-making Americans are successful at achieving what they set out to do. I’ll make a bit of a self-disclosure here in stating that I have absolutely no idea what my 2015 resolutions were, yet I still experienced 2015 to be a successful and fulfilling year. This year, noting a slight sense of guilt at my forgetfulness despite my solid year prior, I have decided to opt out of resolution-making and I think you should too.
Here’s why: Resolutions typically fall flat over time, they are often similar year after year (because they’re never actually accomplished) and, perhaps most importantly, when we set ourselves up for all-but-inevitable failure, we experience an unnecessary blow to our self-perceptions and possibly even our self-esteem (i.e., “I’m someone who gives up” or “I never finish what I start”). The setting and accomplishing of resolutions is an unfair gauge for judging our own performance over the course of a year.
This year, instead of looking to resolutions in an effort to push the reset button on current habits, choices and overall ways of existing in the world, try this: Identify just one thing you would like to improve upon or change (trying to make multiple changes at once is typically unsustainable) and begin by developing a new technique or system for implementing the desired change. Be certain that you are thinking small-scale here as opposed to the typical goal-oriented resolution-style thought process. For instance, one of the most common resolutions relates to weight loss; instead of setting a goal to lose 10 pounds, create a realistic plan that extends only one day at a time. This may include waking up 10 minutes earlier than usual to do a mini-workout one day, planning a healthy dinner the day after that and going for a walk the day after that. These sorts of small, daily shifts in routine are realistic and attainable and they don’t require the sort of overhaul that our resolutions often do (i.e., the gym five days a week when you haven’t been for the last half of the year). Additionally, if you make the decision to do one small task differently each day, you likely won’t forget about it after a month or two — a small shift in each day becomes part of your daily consciousness.
Regarding habits, creating new ones can take some time, so be certain to not allow setbacks or slipups to deter you; instead, you can consider these occasional hiccups as a built-in part of the process. When the habit is fully established, you are much less likely to revert back to old behaviors. When your new routines have begun to feel second nature, you are also probably ready to take on another lifestyle change. You’ll repeat the same process, focusing again on the small shifts you would like to make in the short-term.
In the moment, baby steps like I’m suggesting may feel miniscule or even irrelevant to try to improve your life, but days add up and so do better choices. Research indicates that the happiest people are inclined to take on each day as its own entity with little concern for the day before and without an overemphasis on the future. Real, sustainable change occurs day to day, not year to year.
So, why not try something different? Don’t worry about the year, don’t worry about the 10 pounds, just think about today.