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It’s that time of the year again. The time when everyone posts a long (or not so long) list of New Year’s Resolutions to their blog.
Well, you won’t see that here. Are you wondering why?
Here are a few of the reasons why I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions any more.
Been There, Done That
I’ve done it before. In the excitement of the New Year, I’ve gone out and drafted a long list of resolutions–only to have broken most of them before the end of January.
In my experience, most New Year’s Resolutions are based on emotions rather than planning. In fact, most of them read sort of like a wish list. (See if it isn’t true. Take any list of resolutions and put the words “I wish I” in front of every one of them. See what I mean?)
The lack of planning with resolutions is a serious oversight though. That’s why most of us fail to keep our New Year’s Resolutions.
Goals are My Goal
Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, I favor goals. Goals are measurable. One plans for goals. But, most importantly, goals should be achievable.
Lexi Rodrigo, my colleague at Freelance Folder, outlines the SMART method for setting goals in this post.
So, in the next few weeks I’ll be considering some specific, measurable, attainable goals that are relevant to my freelance writing business. I’ll be making this decision carefully, based on my past experience as a freelance writer.
Not Just Once a Year
Goals shouldn’t be limited to just once a year either like resolutions are. I’ll be revisiting my goals at least once a quarter. I’ll add to them or subtract from them, as I see fit.
I don’t want to wait for an entire year to pass before I set another goal.
Your Turn
I wrote this post because I think goals are so much more meaningful than the typical list of New Year’s Resolutions.
Just because I don’t have New Year’s Resolutions this year doesn’t mean you can’t. Did you set New Year’s Resolutions this year? If so, share them in the comments.
If you didn’t make New Years Resolutions this year, let us know why not.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Ronda Levine // Jan 3, 2012 at
I too avoid setting resolutions. I’d rather have goals and action plans for getting to those goals. Resolutions tend to focus on negatives instead of positives.
2 Victoria @ My Daily Cuppa // Jan 4, 2012 at
Hi Laura,
I have set out my list of goals for the year. I agree with what you say about setting concrete targets and review dates of a regular basis. I have yet to commit this part to paper but I will definitely be working on it.
Good luck with your own goals this year.
Victoria
3 Laura Spencer // Jan 4, 2012 at
Hi Ronda,
I didn’t think about it–but resolutions often do focus on the negatives.
Hi Victoria–Good luck with your goals too!
4 Anna // Jan 4, 2012 at
I just wrote about this topic on my own blog, because yep, it’s about that time. I favor an ‘annual review’ to resolution setting, because a new year is about reflection and setting the bar higher, and waiting a whole year before getting new goals is crazy.
43 things has been a pretty cool tool- it’s a social goal setting site where you can ask others how they achieved their goals or get ideas for new goals, among other things.
5 Matt Keegan // Jan 11, 2012 at
Agreed! I don’t make resolutions either — I make my goals and reshape them as needed. If there is a resolution that I need to make, I’ll do it when I’m moved to do so and not just on Jan. 1.
6 Laura Spencer // Jan 11, 2012 at
Hi Anna and Matt!
Nice to learn of two more that don’t do official resolutions. I think goals are so much better. Anna, I’ll take a look at 43 things.