Resolutions vs. Goals - 3 Reasons Goals are Better

Previously I’ve refused to set New Year’s resolutions with the rest of the world. Instead, I fixed things throughout the year as they came up. If something was out of balance I corrected when needed. Maybe it was the tiny little rebel in me but the idea of changing things or resolving to do better just because it was a new year rubbed me wrong. This year as December waned I started listing in my head everything that I wanted to accomplish and mapping out how they might be attained. So why the change? First, I have a business I wanted to be successful. Second, these weren’t resolutions I was setting, they were goals. I wasn’t promising to floss every day, which I do need to be better at by the way. I was mapping out my year to be create a path towards success. Part of me felt like a flip flopper until I did some research.

I combed through a couple of resolution/goal settting how tos before I landed on one that spoke to me. About health explained why resolutions seemed so revolting to me and goals were easier to stomach. You can find the full post at http://stress.about.com/od/programsan....

1.       Rigid vs. Fluid – A resolution is an absolute and it can seem insurmountable, like going to bed at ten every night. One late night at the office and you’ve broken your resolution. Goals however are something to aim for and can be broken down into smaller achievements like getting more sleep.

2.       Sense of Accomplishment vs. Sense of Failure – If I set a goal of getting more sleep then I can accomplish that in a number of different ways whereas the resolution of getting to be by ten had me failing on the first day. Being successful at the stepping stones that get us to our goal helps us stay on track. Once you’ve been unable to keep a resolution you may give up.

3.       The scope of the change – Resolutions are usually a means to achieving a goal. If I set a resolution of going to the gym five times a week and I hate the gym then I’ve failed and may give up. But if set a goal of exercising more and I decide I liking walking better then I’ve achieved the same goal.

So what could be good strategies for goal setting?

1.       Keep the future in mind – Where do you want to be this time next year?

2.       Think in terms of broad changes rather than specific behaviors.

3.       Decide what you want to ADD to your life rather than take away.

Many of the goals I listed were business goals. For all you readers out there, yes I’ve planned to get book 3 out by May. I put two conferences on my list, Utopia Con 2016 in Nashville in June and Penned Con in St. Louis in September. Last, I decided to do something new to stretch my writing talents a bit so you may see work in a new genre from me this year.

Whatever your goals are, I’ve kept my helpful tips blog on the list for 2016 so keep checking back! You can find me on all the social media and I’d love to connect with you there!

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All the best,
Tricia