Are your resolutions getting you closer to your destination?
Ask yourself how many resolutions you have recently completed. Now ask yourself what new resolutions you would like to make. Finally, compare both to your long-term vision. If you are making plans (goals, objectives, and projects), make them smart and you may find yourself moving away from resolutions.
Look further ahead and aim at your true target
When most people think of what they want to be doing, they are often referring to some future time (you know years from now when we have self-driving cars). They can often envision a reality (likely without most of the details or steps) with the desired outcome. Although resolutions relate to the future, they are typically not at the same level as your plans.
Change Gears: Frequent reviews of your commitments
With your written projects, objectives, and goals you have a better idea of the course that you are trying to take. The question is, when do you review these plans? I review (and create) my goals during my new year (the week of my birthday) and monthly. I review (and sometimes create) performance objectives and projects quarterly, monthly and weekly. The following things are up for negotiation with my boss - me:
- Is this still important? If not, I push it to the side, change the status to "hold", or delete it (really that's okay).
- Does it make sense? Using part of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, Time-bound/Time-based) - S.A.R, I evaluate my vision of what I want to accomplish. With most plans, the "M" is inferred. For example: "Graduate college with a degree in X". The "T" is important, but I rarely used dates unless they are mandatory. It is very demotivating to miss deadlines that are not real.
- Make the adjustments to the steps needed. Now is the time to evaluate the actions to get you closer to the finish line. Wash, rinse, and repeat. The frequent review and needed adjustments to your plans will increase focus and progress, with no resolutions.