With the end of the year approaching, it’s time to assess the state of our New Year’s resolutions list. A lot of the resolutions I made last year are still waiting to be implemented, and I think I may not be the only one. Here are some tips on how to achieve the goals you created at the start of the year, before December 31st hits.
To complete this assessment, you first have to be honest with yourself and evaluate the status of each goal. You still have time to make your resolutions happen! Use the upcoming deadline as motivation and make these last few weeks both productive and rewarding.
Don’t forget to be proud of what you have accomplished this year and be happy with the incredible things you have achieved, now let’s see what you can do with the remaining ones:
1. Schedule it now
Some of your goals may be one-time actions: cleaning a wardrobe, going to the dentist for a check-up… Consequently, these can easily be done in the last weeks of the year if planned for now. Fix any appointment needed, set a few hours per week aside and reserve these slots in your calendar. This way, you will be able to tackle each task one after the other. But be careful not to overfill your schedule, there is no need to make the end of the year more stressful.
2. Create new habits just in time for the new year
This category is for people who wanted to sleep more, go to the gym regularly or lessen screen time. It’s not too late to create a new routine! The few weeks left before the new year can be enough to get used to do the dishes every day before bed, or put sunscreen on every morning.
To check your progress and motivate yourself, you could mark on a calendar the days you accomplish your new task. In a few weeks, once you get into the groove, you may feel like you’ve been doing it all year.
3. Adjust or modify goals
While it may seem like cheating, modifying the end goal is better than giving up on doing it. Maybe you thought you could read 12 books this year, but life got in the way. Why not reevaluate your goal and make it 6 books? This way, you will have the opportunity to work towards an objective that is attainable and still aligned with your original idea.
4. Set up for next year
If your resolution was to master a new skill, you could consider taking an introductory class. This will help you get a foot on the ladder, and give you the basic knowledge which you can build on. Try and find resources, perhaps buy equipment to be prepared to start learning and developing this skill next year.
Did you want to take a solo trip? Start planning for it now to travel early next year. Lay the groundwork now to be sure to cross this resolution off of your list next year.
5. Combine efforts with a friend
As stated before, you’re surely not the only one trying to achieve your last goals of the year. You could talk to your friends and relatives and see if some of the resolutions they have left match yours.
Maybe your cousin is also trying to get into the habit of going to yoga classes once a week. You could go there together and be accountable to one another. Or perhaps one of your friends was also planning on donating furniture and electrical devices they don’t use anymore, and you could join them to drop things off.
The key here is to find motivation with other people. Don’t be afraid to ask for help too if you need it!
6. Pay for it
This applies to the situations where you were planning on doing something yourself but could have it done by a professional.
In my case, I had been trying to go to a self-service laundry to wash and dry some pieces of heavier winter clothing all summer long, but never seemed to find the time. I ended up going to the dry cleaner’s and while it costed money, it freed up time for myself and helped me complete one more resolution.
7. Just forget it
Re-evaluate some of the goals you created at the beginning of the year. Maybe the goal was unattainable or did not fit your lifestyle (learning 15 new songs on the piano, attending drawing lessons three times a week). Maybe your priorities shifted and this resolution didn’t take precedence.
Try and think about why it didn’t work out and how you could set better goals for next year. It could help you get an idea of what is really important for you, and what you have the capacity and drive to make time for. You can turn this uncompleted resolution into an opportunity to learn about yourself.
Finally, I would recommend doing this reassessment exercise regularly throughout the year. It could really help you go through your resolutions list with a more effective and suited approach.
Nevertheless, the most important thing to learn from this evaluation is how to choose better goals for yourself. Create goals that fit your way of living and timetable, your short-term and long-term objectives, and help you become the person you aspire to be.
