Don't Set A New Year's Resolution
Here's something that's more useful than setting a new resolution in 2021
This year has been different in many ways for everyone. Even some of my oldest patterns and habits have changed. Let’s talk for a second about New Years Resolutions.
By now, I’ve usually retrospected and set goals or intentions. By now, I’ve also usually made plans, or pulled in accountabilibuddies. In fact, for some reason, I usually do all this in November. Maybe because that’s when I first start feeling the “sunsetting” of the year.
This year?
Nope.
I haven’t set any goals and I haven’t really evaluated 2020.
Instead of setting hard goals this year, I’ve been thinking more about my approach.
My last post details some of these thoughts. But if you’re too busy to go back and read it, here’s an image that sort of sums it up:
Brief aside: you should follow Brendon☝️. He’s an amazing writer and ultramarathon runner who hates running.
Anyway, it seems like most of us take the same approach every year (write down a big list of things we want to accomplish and then don’t change any of the habits, systems, thoughts, or accountability around how to make them happen).
I’m not pointing fingers. I do this in some capacity EVERY year.
Instead of taking the same approach, I encourage you to evaluate it and decide to deliberately NOT do things.
Go ahead, make the list, get it all out on paper. But understand that some of that list is going to be your “to do” list while the rest of it is going to be your “to don’t” list. This is critical because it’s often that long tail of little things that takes the attention and resources away from your priorities.
I think we’re all looking forward to more wins in 2021 than we saw in 2020—so I think we should approach this year with attainable, feasible, small goals that provide those small wins and hits of dopamine we need to keep going.
Instead of setting lofty goals and resolutions, evaluate the approach.
Does this resonate with you?
In what ways have you failed in years past? How will you work around those failures without repeating them?
I think we all might like to try something a little different this year. Maybe that’s what we need to succeed in 2021—a different approach.
Thanks for reading.