7 Ways to Make Resolutions Fun Again

Do you hate making resolutions?

Do they seem like a colossal waste of time because you figure you will probably just give up on them after a few days or weeks? Well, you’re not alone, and you’re probably right…that is, if you only make them impulsively after a few drinks on New Year’s Eve!

On the premise that it is easier to stick to a new habit when you can make it fun, here are some ideas for making resolutions you can stick to:

1. Call it something else

Call it goal setting…affirmations…planning…whatever you like. But don’t make the mistake of thinking your life is going to change for the better without some effort on your part. What’s working? What isn’t? What would you most like to change? Why? What steps will you take? When?

Keep in mind: If you keep on doin’ what you’re doin’, you’re gonna keep on gettin’ what you’ve got.

Learn to live your life by design, not by default!

And remember: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I still don’t hate the word resolution, though. All it means is this: A firm decision to do or not do something. Is your reluctance just a rebellious feeling that you don’t wanna do something you know you ought to do? Maybe it will help if you choose a new behavior, rather than to resolve or decide to change an old one.

2. Try choosing a focus word, or theme for the year instead

I jumped onto the focus word bandwagon last year. I find that a focus word, or theme for the year, helps to shape my thoughts and actions in a way that does not require sticking to a specific habit that can easily be abandoned. The word can apply to one’s personal life, work, or both, and keeping it in mind can lead to discoveries and new habits that were not foreseen on January 1st.

3. Pick something fun

As my brilliant colleague Seana Turner says, “A resolution doesn’t have to be something you are feeling guilty about.” Try  thinking of something fun or positive that you’ve been wanting to do, but never allow yourself the time. Give yourself permission to…take yourself to the movies more often? Schedule more “me time”? Take a class? Volunteer? What about resolving to reach out in some way or do a good deed each day? (Extra points for anonymity.)

4. Set S.M.A.R.T Goals

Read my blog post about this to learn how to set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Specific. Essentially, your S.M.A.R.T. goal doubles as your plan for reaching it!

5. Pick another time

The New Year is a traditional time to reflect, set goals, and make plans. But it can also be a crazy-busy time of year! There’s really no wrong time to do this. Maybe your birthday makes more sense to you. Or the first day of your favorite season. Back-to-school? Quarterly? Monthly?

I like to reflect on my life as I am returning home from a vacation. I’m usually as excited to come home as I was to leave, and I figure if I’m not there must be something about my life that needs fixing.

6. Select a smaller goal

Give yourself permission to start small. Instead of saying, “I’ll go to the gym and exercise for an hour every day,” start with, “I’ll go for a 10 minute walk three days a week.” You can always set a new goal later. It’s way more fun to reach a small goal and then set a new, more ambitious one, than it is to feel like a loser just because your goal wasn’t very S.M.A.R.T. to begin with. Or, am I the only one who feels that progress equals happiness?

7. Try something different

• Set goals with a friend and keep each other accountable.
• Make a vision board.
• Reward yourself, not for reaching your ultimate goal, but for working towards your goal.
• Keep a gratitude box (or jar).
• Find a new-habit app, such as Better (based on Gretchen Rubin’s book Better than Before) for your smartphone.
• Think of your future self as a dear friend.
• Mark your calendar with an X for each day you meet your new goal, and don’t break the chain.
• Keep yourself on track for some of the things you want to do daily and weekly by using a kids’ magnetic chore chart. Stars, balloons, and smiley faces can be motivational for grownups too!

What are your ideas for making resolutions fun again?

Please share them in the comments!

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