Making a resolution stick

What is a new year’s resolution good for anyway?

In short it is worth nothing if I do not follow through with what I’ve set out to accomplish.
A new year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous.

Popular goals along these lines include: losing weight, paying off debt, saving money, getting a better job, getting fit, eating right, quitting smoking, getting a better education, reducing stress, etc…

The idea of a resolution comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned.

All too often a new year’s resolution lasts until about Feb. 2, and then are all but forgotten throughout the rest of the year.

Recent research shows that while 52 percent of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12 percent actually achieved their goals.

What does this say about goal making?

Am I doomed to be included in the 88 percent group of people who will not follow through on my goals.

Yes… that is unless I go about setting and achieving my goals with proper planning, education and accountability.

Again, research shows that men achieved their goals 22 percent more often when they engaged in a goal setting system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10 percent more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.

Carthage resident Art Shetler spoke about his family’s goal for getting out of debt and the planning that went into seeing this goal become a reality.

Their family began by attending a series of financial seminars through their church.
The program they studied was Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

Shetler commented on the valuable advice the seminar gave and the practical steps to carry out his family’s financial readjustments.
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Financial Peace recommended putting a base of $500 in the bank before moving forward with my other goals,” said Shetler.

“After that I looked at the list of debt I have and started with the smallest debt I owed and worked to pay it off first. Once that debt was eliminated, I took the money I was using to pay off the first debt and added it to the money I am paying on the next smallest debt.

“They said to keep taking the money I am gaining by paying off each debt and adding it to the next larger debt.

This will greatly increase the effect of having more to put toward a larger debt.”
Shetler stated that this advice was very helpful and his family was sticking hard and fast to this plan.

It is exactly this kind of education and making resolution plans known to others who can and will help with accountability, which makes the difference with new years resolutions.

“Another helpful thing I learned from the seminars was to pay for food first, then focus on rent or house payment, then pay the utilities for the month,” said Shetler.

“We were trying to do what we thought was the best plan by trying to pay all our bills first and then using what was left to buy our food. That is quite a bit different than we were used to doing. It is making a difference for the better.”

As Shetler’s example is pointing out, the good intention is not enough to see a resolution through.

I must take an honest look at how equipped I am to carry out my goal before I begin.
If I don’t know exactly what is going to be required, I will not know how to make significant progress.

Stay away from generalizing goals. Get specific and tell others what the goals are.
This is what I call “stacking the deck in my favor.”

Do as many things to educate myself regarding a goal and lay out a clear and reasonable plan of action.

The success of sticking to a resolution can be realized.