It’s that time again when most of us are resolved that this new year is going to be OUR YEAR. This will be the one where we absolutely crush it 366 (it’s a leap year) days straight. This will be the year that we finally make all those changes we have been hoping for for so long. So, maybe we have set ourselves a whole host of New Year’s resolutions. And, we are totally and utterly psyched up that this is the year that we will stick it out beyond the end of January. But maybe that’s not you? Maybe you are keen to start out, but not that committed to actually achieving anything or making any changes? Well then this is the post for you! Here are 6 fool proof ways to fail at your goals in 2024.
1. Write down what you want to achieve, but don’t think about how to do it.
This is absolutely brilliant. We can have a list of things we hope to change, we can even think really big. But, without thinking about how we actually plan to do it, then all the different things on that list will sit nicely in the realm of hopes and dreams until we dust them off again in 2025. Better yet, make a vague half plan. This makes an even better show of actually doing something. Something like exercise more, by running 3 times a week. This sounds fantastic! But, make sure you don’t plan in any running routes, or choose a running plan or even thin about which days and at what times you plan to run.
If you do not make a specific plan for which day, at what time, following which route and plan, then your risk of actually going out for a run is safely low enough that you can rest easy come January 1st.
2. Expect that things will be easy, you will always be fully motivated and little hard work will be required.
Here is the point. Anything that is actually important to you, that is actually worth committing to, will ALWAYS be an absolute joy and delight. It will ALWAYS be something that you are so committed to that it will NEVER feel like work to actually do it. If ever you find yourself in a situation where you do not want to do something any longer, or you want to do something that you have resolved not to do, this is clear 100% proof that you are on the wrong track. We all know, don’t we, that the things that are truly important to us, will ALWAYS be easy to achieve. So, if the going gets tough, then this is probably the wrong thing for you.
3. Plan to do everything all at the same time
If something is important, if it is something that you want to change, then it needs to happen right now. So, whatever is on your list, start on January 1st. Why would you wait on anything that is on your list after all? What’s brilliant about this approach is that you will get all the kudos from people for how committed you are for all the positive things you do in the first few weeks of 2024. By the time we reach week 4 or 5, no one will begrudge you giving up on anything. They likely won’t want to draw too much attention to it as they’ve given up themselves. So, you can safely forget about the fact there are 12 months in the year, safely plan to do everything in January, and then just quietly give up when no one’s watching.
4. Throw in some goals that are mutually exlusive.
This is a really subtle one and is really effective at surreptitiously sabotaging yourself. So, plan to eat more healthily, and plan to spend less money, but also to spend more time going out with friends.
5. Don’t consider the order you do things, or how different things migh serve and complement one another.
The opposite of point 5 really. Some things you might want to do or change will actually go together nicely, or might make it easier to achieve other things on your list. For example, you might want to implement more healthy and consistent morning and evening routines and also read more. These will slot nicely together. But, if you don’t bother thinking about this, then you minimise the risk of actually making good changes and achieving what you ‘hope’ to.
6. Don’t pause, reflect, review and re-focus.
Remember, once you’ve failed on any one goal and on any one day of the 366 days in 2024, it is game over until Jan 1st 2025. So, don’t even bother considering your progress, thinking about the things that have helped and hindered, worked and not worked. It is game over. No one wants to think about making changes to the their life, lifestyle and how to achieve their goals in February or March after all.
So there are 6 fool proof ways to fail at your goals in 2024. If you follow these 6 principles you can sit safely in your comfort zone for another 12 months but also enjoy some of the kudos you get for at least attempting to change things up in 2024.
