Buzz
Move past January—where will you be by next December? Resolutions often fade, but a well-structured annual plan for your interests or routines can lead to more enduring and rewarding outcomes.
Establish Year-Round Reminders
Suppose you aim to stay more connected with friends and family. Calls, texts, and letters are excellent, but they’re spontaneous actions. While you should continue these, also prepare for success throughout the year. Compile a list of everyone’s birthdays and set calendar alerts to purchase cards or make calls. Even better, stock a shoebox with pre-written birthday cards so each one is prepared when the time comes. By doing this, future you will be known as the Person Who Never Forgets a Birthday.
Plan Your Year in Seasons
Alternatively, suppose you’re considering a fitness goal. You might hit the gym religiously in January... but what happens after that? Long-term planning can be challenging here since you shouldn’t assume progress you can’t guarantee. However, take inspiration from how sports teams organize their seasons: they adjust their training routines throughout the year. You can adopt a similar approach, mapping out your year—or at least your spring and summer—with a clear plan.
Imagine you want to pick up running again this year. Someone with only a resolution might sign up for a gym membership and consider the job done. But not you! You’re more strategic. You ponder whether you could be marathon-ready. Break it down month by month:
January through March: Commit to regular gym visits, perhaps three times a week, focusing on strength training and treadmill runs. Follow a structured program or consult a trainer to ensure you’re building a solid foundation for the next phase.
April and May: Transition outdoors with an 8-week running plan, such as this one designed for a 5K (three-mile) distance. Assess whether you’re prepared to train for a fall marathon or if a half marathon feels more achievable.
June through September: Dedicate these months to training for your chosen race using a structured program.
October: Complete your marathon (or half), then take the rest of the month to relax and celebrate.
November and December: Reflect on your journey. Maybe running no longer excites you, and it’s time to explore a new sport. Or, if you completed a half marathon, consider whether you’re ready to tackle a full marathon in the spring. It’s fine to leave this open-ended—December isn’t exactly a productivity powerhouse anyway.
Set 12 Mini Resolutions
A year can feel overwhelming. Perhaps monthly goals suit you better? Inspired by the Mytour Money Challenge, you could select 12 areas to focus on and set reminders in advance. Maybe April is when you perfect your skincare routine and stick to it. Come July, you’ll journal daily. In October, you’ll dedicate the month to creating the most impressive handmade Halloween decorations.
You can also repeat the same project or resolution 12 times, hitting a symbolic reset button at the start of each month. For example, while preparing for NaNoWriMo, I decided to brainstorm a new story idea every month. Some ideas were hastily scribbled on a post-it note on the 30th, while others were thoughtfully developed throughout the month, complete with character sketches and plot outlines. By November, I had ten solid options to choose from. A simple variation of this approach could involve writing a short story each month instead.
Tailor this approach to your own interests: perhaps you’ll create a painting, compose a song, or master a new skill each month. Most of us struggle to maintain year-long resolutions, but monthly or seasonal goals can make it easier to stay committed. Try it out and relish the sense of achievement by December 2018.
