Why I Hate New Year’s Resolutions

It’s December, which means we are fast approaching 2010 and with it, the annual ritual of New Year’s resolutions. Personally speaking, I’m not a big fan of New Years resolutions. Don’t get me wrong, the ideas and motivation behind these resolutions are good. No one ever makes a New Year’s resolution to smoke more cigarettes, gain some weight or get more out of shape – so most resolutions then are to improve one’s self. So, if the motivation behind them is good, why do they seem to go so wrong year after year?

Well, first off, most everyone chooses New Year’s resolutions that significantly alter behavior that the person most likely has had for years, relying solely on their own willpower. Losing weight, quitting smoking, getting in shape or changing their saving habits – all pretty impressive, but very demanding challenges as resolutions go. Do I think people are then aiming too high?  Maybe. But I think the real culprit is the fact that many people make New Year’s resolutions without really thinking them through and putting a realistic plan in place to support the necessary behavior changes. In the end, resolutions are dropped, people fail and the entire idea of the New Year’s resolution is disparaged.  The concept of New Year’s resolutions is good, but we are made to feel bad if we fall short of our goals.

Most years I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. There is one exception – three years ago, when I first joined the Winchester Highlanders running club. That year I made a resolution to run 75 mornings with the Highlanders (at 5:45 AM on weekday mornings to boot) and run a total of 750 miles that year. I fell short of my goals that year, probably aiming too high, but I increased my mileage significantly over the previous year.  So it was a relative success.

No, I don’t have extraordinary willpower that the rest of the world lacks. Instead, I sincerely wanted to do this, my plan fit into my schedule, and there were measurable benchmarks to track my success. I still run (if you saw last month’s Trekking about my marathon you knew that) and finally exceeded the 750 miles this year.  It’s a goal I worked up to gradually.

So, as we look to our own or our clients’ businesses, keep in mind that New Year’s resolutions should be realistic and incorporated with a well thought-out plan of action in order to be successful.  Mike Oleksak 2009