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New Year's Resolutions Don't Work

Taking the lead from my pal, Ken Mueller of Inkling Media, who wrote “Flipping the Calendar: Looking Back and Looking Ahead,” I thought I’d share my thoughts on New Year’s resolutions–and why they’re not good for you.

First, let me start off by saying that I love change. The fact that we have turned the page on the calendar and started a brand new year gives me a bit of a thrill. I love new things. Clean slates. Second chances and the like. I love the idea that we can always do more, be better, start over (anytime).

So, why do I dislike the idea of a New Year’s resolution? They don’t work. Simple as that, really. Well, maybe not THAT simple. When we make New Year’s resolutions, we probably believe that we can lose weight, quit smoking, and get organized. The problem, for me, is in the expectation. Often, with the promise of a new year, we set ourselves up for failure by setting unrealistic goals. By “resolving” to do something life-changing, without really thinking about what actions we’ll take in the coming year that will yield the results we’ve promised ourselves. What will be different?

Want to be more productive in your business? What will you do differently in 2012 to help you get there? Turn off your email during the day? Take a break every 90 minutes? Create a social strategy to maximize your time online?

You get my point. Have a plan. Keep it real. And don’t be afraid to tweak your plan as-you-go. Change is constant…don’t for January 1, 2013 to “resolve” to do better.

Now that I’ve dampened your New Year’s spirit, let me finish by saying that I’m very excited about this new slate ahead of me, and I hope you are too. We have a shiny New Year to play with.

And if you’re a New Year’s resolution-kind-of-person, I really do wish you much success in your personal and / or professional goals.

I’d love for you to share your thoughts on New Year’s resolutions. Do they work? Have you been successful in meeting your resolutions in the past? Love to hear about it! Share in comments below.