Why goals instead of resolutions? I know, I know. It’s the season for “resolutions” but I refuse to set any. I get the point – to set new ideals for the next year. But a few years ago, I realized that I didn’t want to set any. It’s not that I didn’t want to aspire to anything in the new year. Quite the opposite – I wanted to set goals for myself instead. Do you want to know why???
REASON #1 = Sustainability
Yes, goals are more sustainable in my opinion. When you set a goal and write out the steps to achieve it, it is a long-term plan. The plan is what makes it sustainable. It keeps you moving forward, and keeps the goal in the front of your mind. A resolution feels like a one-and-done proposition. A goal feels like something to work towards.
REASON #2 = Flexibility
A goal is flexible as life moves forward. The goal can evolve, your steps to achieve it can change, and your reasons behind the goal can be updated.
Resolutions feel more permanent and less fluid.
A goal to make more money-conscious decisions can be updated but a resolution to save $2000 feels too set in stone. What if an emergency comes up and you have to get the car repaired?
Reason #3 = Recoverability
Yup, recoverability – meaning that if something gets in the way of the goal, you can recover.
Let’s take another look at the financial goal. If you have to lay out part of your savings to repair the car, the resolution to save $2000 gets “broken”. However, a goal can get back on track easily. You simply start saving again. This is a huge one for me. I can always get back on track with a goal but once a resolution gets broken it feels like it’s over and done.
These three reasons of why goals are better than resolutions are the cornerstones of why I prefer to set the goals. (P.S. Bonus points if you make them SMART goals!) They certainly pointed in the same direction that a resolution might be, but with a goal and a plan, it takes the mental load off a little and I can focus on achieving what I want to achieve!