How to Write Resolutions You’ll Keep in 2018

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We’ve all been there: we feel re-energized by the beginning of a new year and think of all sorts of resolutions to help us move our lives forward. Some are big, broad, and vague, while others are so specific they’re impossible to keep up. Either way, we’ve forgotten them all by March, and we start it all over again the following year.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of that! This year, I’m looking at all the ways I’ve set resolutions before, assessing why they have or haven’t worked, and trying something new. Here are some thoughts on how to do better this time:

1. Don’t rush the process!

I’ve noticed that sometimes my desire to have my resolutions done before the new year get in the way of developing them to their fullest potential. The truth is that, like so many other things, the beginning of a new year is an arbitrary deadline we set for ourselves. It’s a much better use of time to actually channel that energy for something actionable than to rush through just to say you did it. If you’re a planner, plan it out! Put some time on your calendar and make it enjoyable. If you’re not, make sure to set everything aside when inspiration strikes you and really distill what goal you’re trying to set.

2. The Goldilocks rule

Many resolutions are actually more like mood boards for our lives: a vision of something grand, something to strive for and aspire to. And while vision boards are wonderful, they don’t make for good resolutions—though they can certainly help point your resolutions in the right direction. My goal this year is to avoid two things:

• Resolutions that are so small they only address a desire, not the habit behind it
  • Example: “I want my closet to be more organized this year” instead of “I want to reassess my closet every X months and continuously clean it out.”
• Resolutions that are so broad and dramatic that they are unreasonable.
  • Example: “I want to completely change my life” instead of “I want to stop doing X and start doing Y to make my life more Z.”

Of course, we can (and should!) dream big, but my hope is to get to the Goldilocks resolution: big enough to where it will impact my life in a positive way, but reasonable and actionable.

3. Remember that life, like design, is an iterative process

This is so key. Look at your life as a trajectory, not as chapters that are disconnected from each other. What have you done well this year? What has moved you in the direction you want to go?

What have you not done well? What has moved you farther away from your goals? And most importantly: what have you learned from those failures? Failure fosters much more creativity than success does, so I’m trying to value my mistakes as much as I do my successes. Think of all you’ve done this year: those moments, lessons, and moments of growth are with you—don’t leave them behind. Harness the energy of what you’ve learned to inform your resolutions.

4. Don’t just focus on what you want to start

I’ve seen (and written) way too many resolutions that focus solely on things I want to start doing or do more of. Resolutions are not Christmas lists! Mostly, it’s important to remember that we’re human, and that respecting our limited and valuable resources (time and energy) should be a priority. After thinking a lot about it, resolutions about what we should stop can be even more important than those about what we want to start doing.

This time, I want to take a look at hobbies I’m not necessarily enjoying, clothes I’m not actually wearing, habits that aren’t benefitting me, etc. I want to be more conscious of my time and value how I spend it.

5. Create resolution checkpoints throughout the year

Resolutions are meant to be worked on throughout the entire year, not just January—although gym attendance levels would tell you otherwise! This year, I’m going to commit to my resolutions by creating checkpoints/milestones throughout the year. That not only will help me check in with my goals, but it will also ensure that my resolutions are actionable in smaller sections. Knowing myself, I’m going to need reminders to stick to it despite my crazy schedule, so I’ll add calendar reminders in both my physical planner and my Google calendar.

As I write these out, though, I’m envisioning this process as flexible and adjustable. Circumstances change, and some parts might be more easily attainable than others. So make sure to give yourself some grace and some room to adjust as you go.

 

Have you written your resolutions yet? What are you main goals for the new year?

HAPPY 2018!

Stay curious,

Nati