We’re a week into the new year and it’s finally kicking in. You put away the holiday décor, everyone’s coming out of winter vacation and we’re settling back into our daily grind of work and school. And for just a moment, you think to yourself – maybe I should start working on that New Year’s Resolution now? You haphazardly plan out your top goals…

I’m going to tackle my arthritis pain. I’ll start eating healthy. I’m going to lose 25 lbs. I’ll cut out sweets. I’ll work out 3 times this week. I’ll make more time for myself and get that massage and my nails done at least once a month.

It all sounds awesome, but… did you make a plan? Do you have a strategy? How important is it to you to reach these goals?

Statistics say…

• Only 9-12% of people keep their new year’s resolution by the end of that year
• 35% fail because they had unrealistic goals
• 33% failed because they didn’t keep track of their progress
• 23% forget about their resolutions
• And 10% said they made too many resolutions.

Source: https://discoverhappyhabits.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/

I tend to fall into the category where I completely forget about my resolutions after a month – especially because I only make a generalized statement and never make a proper commitment to it.

So, if this is you also, but you’re serious about fulfilling your goals this year, check out the top 8 things to consider when creating goals that are certain to help you succeed.

What is it that you really want? Think long and hard about it. Then WRITE IT DOWN somewhere. Create a note on your phone. Start with the ultimate goal, and let’s learn how to break it down into realistic steps to make it happen by the end of 2023!

1. Come up with the perfect New Year’s Resolution worthy of committing to. And BE SPECIFIC

For a realistic new years’ resolution, you want to start big, but then break it down into actionable steps that bring you closer to that goal each day, week, or month. Many people want to lose weight or eat healthy as their resolution. This is a great goal, but it is too broad. Saying you want to be fit and healthy is too generalized. Make it specific such as - you want to lose 25 lbs by the end of the year – which breaks it down to about 2lbs per month. Breaking it down seems more attainable.

Then when you make this goal, make a PROMISE to yourself to keep this goal. There’s just something about making promises to yourself. Be accountable to yourself and keep that promise

2. Dive deep into your WHY

Have you ever made a list of things you want to do or achieve, but didn’t really feel excited when writing about it? You probably thought it was something you were supposed to do, or you were following along with what society or your friends expect of you. If you don’t feel excited in the beginning, you will never gain enough momentum to see it through.

So, why do you want to lose 25 lbs? Does losing 25 lbs mean less stress on your joints, so you reduce pain, and less stress on your heart, so you improve your blood pressure? Losing 25 lbs means feeling more confident in your own body. What does this goal do for you short-term, and long-term?

Then think about what areas in your life you have to consider to make this goal happen. This is KEY. 

3. Mindset

This also includes your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This goes beyond learning a new skill, but also taps into your potential for resilience and growth that's important for you to succeed in your goals. What type of mindset do you have to be in to achieve this goal? And how will you do it? Yes, having willpower and motivation will help, but being strategic and flexible is more important. Your plan is not going to be perfect, and you will be thrown several curveballs that challenge your commitment. So be flexible with yourself, find new strategies to work around it, and most importantly, give yourself grace.

4. Family

How will this goal affect your family? What do you need to communicate with your family or friends so that they can help you support you in your goals? Include your family as a part of your goals. They may not need to lose weight but eating healthy for you is also eating healthy for them. This can be a crucial component of long-term success.

5. Environment

How do you prepare your environment to support you or so that it does not derail you from this goal? Do you have a safe place to work out? Is your kitchen set up with all the healthy foods to get started? How will your plans change at work vs home, weekday vs weekend? If drinking adequate water is a priority, grab a large water bottle (or two) that you can take with you anywhere for easy access.

6. Finances

Does it cost money? How will you budget your time and money to make this happen? Where does this goal fall on your priorities list? 

7. Lifestyle habits

How does this change your morning and evening routines? How does this change the way you prepare your meals for yourself or for your family? 

What other areas do you need to consider that are specific to your lifestyle?

8. What specific habits or actions within those areas need to happen to achieve this goal? 

Create an Actionable Step-by-Step Plan 

Next, choose several small goals and create a step-by-step plan for each one that fulfills your overall goal. You already know how much weight you need to lose each month. Now, think about the steps you need to achieve this goal. This might include lifestyle and nutrition habits such as daily affirmations, creating boundaries, drinking more water, reducing inflammation, moving more, etc.

Example. Instead of “eating healthy,” define what that means. Try “eating one serving of veggies with dinner every day.” These mini-actions can be completed throughout the year. Or for mindset: I will create a vision board and review it every morning, along with my affirmations. This will help me set each day with intention to keep that promise to myself.

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This is the framework I use to create my goals for the year to help me succeed and maintain my health journey. If you want to see exactly what I did to lose 25 lbs, I’ve written out the weekly step-by-step holistic plan that helps me transform my approach to food, stress, exercise, movement, sleep, and more! Best of all, it has all the tips and tricks I used to include my family and toddlers in my journey.  

Check out your Step-By-Step Holistic New Year's Plan here