How to Follow Up on Goals and Resolutions

Resolutions get made constantly, and the start of a new year is when they pile up fastest. Most of them die within weeks. The reason is almost never a lack of willpower; it's that the resolution gets announced without any thought given to how it will actually happen. If you fold the follow-up steps into the act of making the goal, you give it somewhere to go. That part is fast, so none of this should scare you off from setting goals meant to improve your life.

Start by spending two or three minutes writing down the resolution along with a handful of the big points behind it. Skip the fine print for now; that comes later. Say your goal is returning to college. Scribble down a possible major or two, a few schools you'd consider, and some rough ideas about paying for it. That small cluster of notes becomes your launch pad and keeps a bit of momentum alive while you figure out the rest.

After that comes the slower work of filling in the details, and rushing it defeats the purpose. Back to the school example: this is where you decide which schools you're applying to and when, and which program you'd pursue at each. Build the plan with a defined beginning and a defined end. Seeing the whole timeline laid out lets you check whether it's realistic before you've committed to anything.

Give the resolution a specific start date. Picking the exact day lets you prepare ahead of time, and preparation is what separates the resolutions that get off the ground from the ones that stall. If you're quitting smoking, for instance, set the quit date at least two weeks out. Those two weeks are for mapping how you'll quit and getting yourself ready, which raises the odds you'll both begin and stick with it.

Whatever the goal, keep it in front of you every day. You chose it because it matters to you, so it has earned a place in your daily routine. Some resolutions need a few minutes a day; others need a few hours. While you're building out the detailed plan, you'll figure out exactly how much daily time it demands so you have enough to follow through properly.

Set aside one day a week to look at how you're doing. It's a quick check, so any time on your chosen day works. Think back over your plan and confirm you're still tracking it. If you've slipped behind, spend a few minutes adjusting so you can climb back onto the timeline you set.

So the next time a goal occurs to you, give it a couple of minutes of planning before you walk away from it. Nothing elaborate is required. Jot a few notes that break the thing into smaller pieces and make it easier to finish. Trying to lose weight? Write down a few simple changes you'll actually make, and go from there.

- Rosemary Kitchen