Instead of New Year's resolutions, set more manageable goals

Goal-setting has never been one of my strong suits, perhaps because I'm not a "baby step" kind of person. I tend to get overwhelmed by the whole rather than motivated by the sum of the parts. And so, on a New Year's Eve whim, I posted the above musing on Twitter. "Resolutions" have always felt intimidating to me, but a daily goal? One little thing to accomplish in a day? Now that I could do.

Ever since then, Rookie Mom Heather and I have been posting our daily goals on Twitter, then checking in with each other once we've accomplished them (or admitted when we didn't). We didn't plan this -- we just started a spontaneous support group of two.

Checking in with a friend on this stuff is so motivating/inspiring/fun, and the accountability and cheerleading really help me follow through. (I invite you to join us -- she's @rookieheather on Twitter and I'm @parenthacks.)

Then, just today, Joe sent in his version as it applies to the whole family:

Skip the usual drudgery of a New Year’s resolution when talking to your kids about the coming year. Kids think in terms of days not years. Gather the troops around the table, preferably at chow time, when you will have everyone’s full attention. Take turns sharing and committing to one specific goal for the coming month. All family members get an opportunity to talk. Keep the goals effort-based. Kids have a tendency to think big (all As on my next report card or 6 goals in the next soccer game). Coach your kids toward action statements like, “I want to focus more on my math homework” or “I want to practice shooting goals at least one day a week”. Celebrate achievements at the end of the month with a dinner out or some shared family time enjoying a day together.

So good to introduce goal-setting to kids early on.

Are you and your family setting goals together? How's it going?

Comments

[nina]

This exactly what I decided to do this year. My post today reflects my monthly list.

I just added Rookie Mom to my Twitter.

[RookieMom Heather]

Brava! I see that you, my co-conspirator, have brought it to the next level. Good thing I made my goal easy for today.

[Cordately]

I just posted my own feelings about how new year's resolutions are overwhelming and unproductive for me. I had read several other blogs that were promoting resolutions, but I generally have better luck making changes when I feel worst rather than an arbitrary calendar date. I was surprised to see such a similar post here. Kudos for such a sensible approach.

[Amy]

http://www.polymathamy.com/2009/01/i-will-do-one-thing-today.html

I posted yesterday on my blog about my motto: I Will Do One Thing Today.

[Joe Bruzzese]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing the 1-month resolution. The radio media picked up the idea as well. Here is the mp3 of my call in http://budurl.com/8zzv

Regards,
Joe Bruzzese

[SueHawk]

It's a great idea, but a little too ambitious for me--and I've learned to handle failure very well. One monthly goal seems much more doable.

[Christy]

I love new year's resolutions and the opportunity to really consider what I most want to do in the coming year. I always try to make my goals "actionable," like Joe says--not something big like "get organized" but some specific action like, "make files for types of mail and file as I open it each day." Last year, I decided to make monthly goals instead of yearly ones and I loved it! It was so much easier to commit to something for a month than for a year. And I found that several of my monthly resolutions ended up lasting through the year anyway. Last January it was "wash, dry, fold, and put away at least one load of laundry every day." Worked fabulously. This January it's to keep the kitchen table clear (a major gathering spot for every odd and end). So far so good!

[Mike Gunderloy]

Great minds...some of us pretty much simultaneously started doing the same thing, only with #dailygoals as the tag - http://search.twitter.com/search?q=+%23dailygoal+OR+%23dailygoals will show you both spontaneous communities intermingled.