Happy 2018! It is nearly one month into the new year, and it may be time to adjust or redefine your resolutions to turn them into reality over the next 11 months. It is never too late to set new goals and intentions for the year, and it is important to remember that successful goals continue to evolve over time.
Embarking upon a new year has always felt refreshing and inspiring – a new beginning with so many possibilities. Setting New Year’s resolutions has been a New Year’s Eve tradition since I was 10 years old. “Shoot for the stars” was my motto, and as inspiring as that can be while developing resolutions, it quickly becomes overwhelming since there is rarely a plan to turn those desired changes into reality. Unfortunately, resolutions soon begin to unravel.
According to Forbes, nearly 40 percent of people set New Year’s resolutions and only 8 percent achieve them. Those 8 percent do not simply stumble into success; they generally have a plan.
Years of trial and error to create successful New Year’s resolutions ultimately boiled down to three key concepts.
Secret #1: Know your ‘why’
Why do you want to make a change? How will it improve your life? What impact will it make? Who are you making the change for? (Hint: If it is not for yourself, it will likely fail.)
These questions partially depend on knowing your purpose – what you were put on Earth to do, what motivates you and what makes you feel the most alive? Maybe your purpose is to make a difference in a specific area of the industry, to be a great steward of the cows in your care or to provide solutions that help others to be successful.
The foundation of all purposes is to first take care of yourself. On an airplane, flight attendants instruct passengers to secure their own mask before assisting others in the case of low cabin pressure. The same applies here. It is easier to take care of others when you are also taking of yourself. Running on empty is not a sustainable solution.
Goals involving extreme personal or professional makeovers and changes especially require a strong purpose and reason why you desire to make the change.
Secret #2: Create a margin
There is never enough time in a day. Creating a new outcome requires a new approach, which usually involves time – time that you don’t have, or do you?
Think of it this way: Christmas decorations are beautiful and can be dynamic displays. However, if the nonseasonal decorations are still displayed along with the Christmas decorations, the space becomes cluttered and overwhelming. It’s necessary to put some decorations away for a period of time to allow the Christmas decorations to have their desired effect and to celebrate the spirit of the season.
The same is true with time. Take inventory of how time is spent. Some activities may need to be put on hold for a period of time to make time for new goals. For example, it would be difficult to lose 30 pounds without carving out time to prepare healthy meals and exercise.
Creating a time margin slows things down to allow for new activities without rushing. Say ‘no’ to activities that do not fulfill your purpose and add to your quality of life, and schedule downtime to relax – easier said than done as society continues to become busier than ever, but it is critical in preventing burnout.
Secret #3: Develop a long-term plan
Businesses rely on strategic plans to guide the goals and outcomes for a set time period. Why not create one for your life? It can encompass your health and fitness aspirations, financial goals, social and relationship ambitions, and personal growth.
Here are seven tips to help you get started:
1. List what you want in each of the above areas and why it is important to you that it is achieved; how will your life be different or better?
2. SMART goals are ‘smart’ for a reason: They work. Make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely. Developing goals in this manner assists in measuring your success.
3. Breaking the goals down into little pieces that you can do every day makes a big difference in the long run. Your goals and tactics need to be realistic for you. If they aren't, you won't stick with them very long.
4. Avoid overhauling too many areas at once. With that said, focusing on a different area each quarter is a more realistic approach. Working out more is not a good goal. Deciding to attend a weekly yoga class or run three days a week is a measurable goal that can help keep you motivated.
5. Set timelines for each goal.
6. List three actions you can take today toward those goals and continue these lists daily or weekly to stay on track.
7. Don’t expect perfection. At some point, you will fall off the wagon. Get up, dust yourself off and get back to your goals. Create a contingency plan for what to do when you fail.
Here’s to an amazing 2018! 
Kimmi Devaney is the agricultural marketing and industry development manager with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. She also writes an agricultural blog.
PHOTOS: Graphics by Kimmi Devaney.
