Rethinking Resolutions: A Practical Guide to Crafting a Year of Success

As the new year unfolds, the initial excitement of New Year's resolutions might be waning. If the thought of another year slipping by without real change is unsettling, you're not alone.

I've shifted from making resolutions to a more sustainable practice of goal setting, intention crafting, and embracing the process.

Let me share how this approach keeps my aspirations on track, making the journey towards them almost failure-proof.

The Unsexy, Yet Essential, Process

While dreaming about your best future life is thrilling, the real magic happens in the process—the groundwork that turns those dreams into reality. I see it as paving a path to success, ensuring that every step taken is steady and sure. In both my professional and personal life, I establish robust checks, reminders, and structures that anchor me to my priorities.

My Toolkit for Success

Here’s a glimpse into the strategies that have transformed my approach:

1. Master Planning Session

As the year winds down, I prep for a master planning session. It's a time for reflection on the past year in total. What lessons did I learn? What accomplishments am I proud of? Which goals didn’t reach the finish line?

All these insights form the foundation of my year-in-review.

With this understanding, I then look forward, envisioning life in the next 5 to 10 years. Imagining my future self, I consider where I want to be, the activities filling my days, and the emotions coloring my experiences. Bringing it back to the present, I outline the forthcoming one or two years, identifying the crucial steps that bridge today with the envisioned tomorrow.

2. Visual and Structured Reminders

Post-planning, my space brims with visual cues of this session. Flip charts from my New Year planning still adorn my walls, and I use the sheets to track progress.

A vision board sits on my desk as a reminder of the bigger picture, complemented by daily pop-up reminders in my planning app that remind me to focus on my goals.

3. Micro-Goals for Monumental Success

Facing a year's worth of ambitions can be daunting. To manage this, I break them down into quarterly and monthly segments, allowing for flexibility as priorities shift. This approach turns overwhelming objectives into manageable tasks, ensuring steady progress.

For example, I have my eye on figuring out how to bring my passion for writing and telling the stories of people who have left corporate structures behind together in a book. I know nothing about how to write, edit or publish a book so part of my plan is to first take a course from an industry expert. From there, I’m getting a roadmap of the interim steps that will guide my progress toward this milestone throughout the year.

4. Regular Reflections and Adjustments

Setting goals isn't a one-time affair; it's an ongoing dialogue with oneself. Every few months, I hold a check-in session to gauge my progress, celebrate victories, and recalibrate in the face of obstacles. This rhythm ensures that my actions are in sync with my intentions.

For business goals, this means pulling my head out of the details and making sure my tasks are actually laddering up to the the things I declared as ‘priorities’. WIth my family, that means setting a quarterly calendar reminder to check in on progress and roadblocks together.

5. Infusing Fun into the Formula

The journey towards your goals doesn't have to be a solemn march. I inject fun into the process with creative approaches—like using physical stickers to track daily habits or turning goal revision sessions into mini celebrations, complete with a fun menu and a festive atmosphere. The more enjoyable the process, the more likely you are to stick with it for the long haul!

6. Leveraging the Right Tools

My arsenal includes a blend of digital and physical tools. From Todoist for task management to Google Calendar for scheduling and a physical calendar for a tangible overview, the key is to find the mix that resonates with your workflow. Stay tuned for more on practical tools to keep you on track.

The Bigger Picture

This method isn't just about ticking boxes; it's about crafting a life that resonates with your deepest aspirations. Whether you're setting goals for the year or envisioning a complete life rewire, these principles are your scaffolding. They support your climb, ensuring that each step is purposeful and aligned with the life you've imagined.

How do you maintain the momentum of your New Year's intentions? I'd love to hear your strategies and stories in the comments below!