By Pat Ingelse, Assistant Vice President, PMP

Studies show that less than 25 percent of people stay committed to their New Year’s resolutions beyond January. And only 8 percent accomplish them by following through for the whole year! So for 2020, I’d suggest we all try something different: Set a goal instead of a resolution.

It’s more than just semantics. Goals make more sense because they are specific, while resolutions tend to be a broader and more general flavor of pie in the sky. It’s easier to visualize a goal, and to track and recognize your progress toward achieving it.

So take a few minutes to clearly identify what you want to accomplish in the new year. Define what it is that’s important to you. And then lay out your game plan! Here are a few tips:

• Start small. Set a goal that is realistic and meaningful. Not huge, not sweeping — just real.
• Write it down. Put your goal and the steps you need to take to reach it on paper. This will help you stay on track. And this part is essential: Don’t forget to revisit these steps often — at least once a week; put a reminder on your phone — to keep your focus.
• Talk about it. Share your goal with people who will support you. Just knowing they know about it will help you stay accountable. (You don’t need to share it with people who might undermine your progress with “jokes” or by questioning your ability or commitment.)
• Take it easy on yourself. There will be times you will slip up and old habits will come back. That’s OK — in fact, it’s normal! Nobody makes a significant change without stumbles, so don’t sabotage yourself by declaring yourself a failure just for being human. Just let it go, treat yourself with the same compassion you’d have for a friend in the same position, and keep going.
• Celebrate yourself. Making changes is challenging. Be sure to congratulate yourself when you complete one of your steps. Then: on to the next!

Good luck — make 2020 your year!