Like most people, I get excited for the new year.  I think of all the things I’ll get to experience.  A crisp new calendar on the wall.  Another Easter, Mother’s and Father’s Day will be here before we know it.  My boy will be turning 11, and more birthdays for the family will set holidays in motion once again as they do every year.  And of course, I look forward to training and the experiences that will come with the races this year.

While I’m excited for the new things to come, I’m not exactly a “New Year’s person.”  You would not have found me awake at midnight last night, if the fireworks hadn’t woke me.  I rarely stay up for the countdown.  These days, I’d rather just get some sleep and get the new day started early as usual.  The other thing you won’t see from me, is any New Year’s resolutions.  I really don’t like the concept of them.  From what I read, about 8% are successful.  I’m sure there are a hundred reasons why they fail, but from my past experience and the resolutions of friends and family, there are three that stand out.

The first of these is timing.  Many people get excited for the New Year.  The “fresh start” so to speak, and I get that.  Too many of those people decide to make these resolutions, these changes simply because of the date on the calendar.  From what I have seen, it takes a lot for most people to make lasting changes in their lives.  If they really aren’t ready, the attempt will fail.  What makes them ready because the calendar changed?  Nothing but the thought that the fresh start should trigger a change.  I do my best not to let dates of any kind dictate change.  If I want to make a change or set a goal,  I do it immediately, if possible.  I try to never think things like “on Monday, I’ll start…”  It just doesn’t work well.  I see too many people go out and use their holiday gift cards on new workout gear and set it aside waiting for the ball to drop.

The second thing I see that causes failure, is setting too large a resolution.  For some reason, it seems that people think a resolution should be grandiose in nature.  They think they need to go big, or go home.  We are a society of immediate gratification.  When these resolutions are set with such high expectation they are nearly unachievable, without time.  There is no instant gratification, but there can be.  Forget the resolutions and instead set small, measurable goals.  These expectations of losing a bunch of weight or eating more healthy are useless.  Don’t get me wrong, having dreams and big goals has its purpose, but they should not be what you are shooting for every day.  Someone who wants to lose 50 pounds didn’t gain it in a month.  Setting a goal to lose it all would feel like an eternity, but setting a small measurable goal, like moving for 10 minutes each day would be successful more times than not.  By achieving these small goals each day, motivation is plenty and eventually the end goal will be met.

The final thing that I see sabotaging these resolutions, are minor setbacks that are considered failures.  If someone whose resolution is to “eat healthy” and they get convinced to have that slice of cake at the office birthday party, all the sudden the resolution is broken so all bets are off.  The day is ruined, so it’s pizza for dinner.  Every time that person eats, they have the potential to succeed.  If it doesn’t go well, there is likely another opportunity around the corner.  Every chance is a learning opportunity.

Before I get off my soap box, I will ask that you keep those big goals on a shelf in the back of your mind.  They are up there like shiny trophies to be earned.  Don’t make a resolution, but set small specific goals, almost too easy to achieve that will lead you down the path to success and that big goal will come eventually.  If you are ready to make a change, don’t wait for a change in the calendar, start immediately.  We only have so many days to enjoy this amazing life.  Control the things you can, accept the things you can’t, and set yourself up for success, every day!