92% of People Fail to Keep Their New Year's Resolutions. Here's What the Other 8% Do.
/1. They don't rely on motivation or willpower
Let's talk about the sexiest word in the human language: accountability.
Are you so hot right now, or what?
Kidding. But seriously, it's a bummer-of-a-word that I happen to be wildly passionate about. Why? Because this word holds the key to unlocking anything you want in life.
Cause here’s the thing: there’s a golden rule of goal setting that dictates that motivation and willpower don’t work.
Motivation and willpower are fair-weather friends, and they do not have your back. They’re wildly unreliable, and to employ them as the backbone of your resolution, would be to set yourself up for a very disappointing February.
They're like that "artsy burner couple" you sometimes go to dinner with: they're fun when things are going well, but ask them for a favor when you need them most and they're suddenly "out of pocket."
I know this sounds crazy coming from an accountability coach. I mean, isn’t that exactly what I’m supposed to be doing here? Motivating you to be better?
Not at all.
Counterintuitive as this all may seem, I'm sure it rings true.
Maybe you’ve gotten really motivated to get up early to hit the gym, get a nice sweat in before work, and then when the moment comes - BANG! Snooze button. Motivation GONE.
Or maybe you’re sitting in front of the TV late at night, and you promise yourself you’re only gonna grab a handful of pretzels until suddenly - without even really noticing - you’ve eaten the whole bag. Willpower GONE.
So, at this point, you’re probably wondering, “What the hell does work?" Simple answer: habits.
2. Resolution champions create "intelligent habits"
Now here’s a crazy statistic: habits dictate 40% of our lives.
Really think about that for a moment. 40% of your life is just on autopilot! Every time you brush your teeth, make coffee, or commute to work, you're likely engaged in habit, meaning that you just do it without thinking about it. No decisions are made, no motivation required.
Habits are effortless. Compulsory. And, more importantly, they’re long-lasting. So once you create a habit - you’re golden. It’s not goin’ anywhere.
So let’s talk goals. Those things you wanna achieve! Those results you want to see! That person you wanna become!
Your goals, whatever they may be, can be achieved pretty easily without the need for any motivation or willpower, so long as you simply implement the right habits. Those results you're looking for are just the inevitable consequences of good habits.
Habits are the algorithms that power our lives and determine our outcomes.
They’re the foundation on which we’re able to architect our ideal future.
And the best part? Habits make achieving goals feel effortless. They don’t require motivational talks or mantras or willpowers of steel. They're easy. You don’t even think about it.
So, the next question is, "How the hell do I create a habit?"
3. They have an accountability structure in place
Habits are created through consistency, and consistency is created through accountability.
Put another way:
If you’re trying to achieve a goal, all you need to do is determine the habits required to achieve this goal, and throw in some accountability. It’s as simple as that.
Accountability builds consistency, which leads to habit.
For those who struggle with internal accountability (being accountable to yourself), it's important to set up a structure of external accountability by way of a coach, accountabilibuddy, or group who depends on you to follow through.
4. Their resolutions are actionable and realistic
"Losing weight” and “being better at managing stress” are pretty general goals. They're not very actionable, nor are they specific. They're not things you could easily check off a “to-do” list.
Broad goals like these will oftentimes lead to stagnation and anxiety, because, let’s be honest, they sound super overwhelming.
So let’s get specific.
What does it actually take to lose weight and manage stress?
If you’re committed to weight loss, perhaps you can start by working out 2 days a week before work, meal prepping for 90 minutes every Sunday evening, or packing your lunch during the workweek. Sounds much more doable, don't you think?
In that same vein, "managing stress" might turn into meditating for 10 minutes every morning, getting at least 7 1/2 hrs of sleep every night, or putting your phone on airplane mode after 9 pm (so you’re not tempted to check your alerts, scroll social media, or refresh your email late into the evening). Again, much more doable.
5. They don't do it alone
Our lives don't exist in a vacuum, nor do our resolutions, so it's important to ensure you have support. Loop in a friend, partner, or, of course, a coach.
You need someone who will hold your feet to the fire and push you through your slumps in motivation and willpower; someone to help you stay focused, thwart excuses, and remember why you're doing all of this in the first place.
Because I promise you this: what's on the other side is worth it.
If you don't know exactly who that person could be for you, I invite you to apply for a complimentary coaching call, where we'll clarify your goals, break them down into actionable habits, and create an accountability structure for unshakable follow-through.