As the new year begins, I drive by countless gyms and fitness centers filled with resolution-seeking individuals who are finally making changes that they’ve “wanted” for a long time now. How many Facebook status’ or Tweets have you seen that say:

All of this resolution talk has me wondering why we have to wait for the start of something new, like a year, to make all these changes? Does the month of January create some sort of mental adrenaline rush that we naturally reach, in hopes that all of our wildest dreams come true? I highly doubt that there is a cosmic force behind January, but I admire that people do take the time to consider their future.

I recently read a 2002 scholarly paper from two men, Edwin Locke and Gary Latham, as it is featured in a Zig Ziglar’s Legendary Goals Program, a book that challenges readers to set their goals, know why they want to achieve the goals, and then continuously remind themselves of their intentions.

Essentially:
1. Goals direct attention and effort toward goal-relevant activities and a way from goal-irrelevant activities
2. Goals have an energizing function. Goals create effort.
3. Goals affect persistence. Goals prolong effort.
4. Goals rally us to bring task-relevant knowledge and strategies to the problem at hand.

While I am not a fan of the New Years Resolutions, simply because they rarely last beyond February, I am such a fan of creating monthly/ semi-annual/ annual goals or annual bucket lists. Coming up in February, I will hold myself accountable to the “24 Things Before Turning 24”, a list that has traveled with me throughout this year of my life. While I still have several large items to complete (Travel to North Carolina, drive a stick shift, take a homeless person out to eat), I can proudly thank the list for encouraging me to some major things like skydiving, fasting, and writing a thank-you note to a creative.

• What are you waiting on? If it’s not your birthday, then I challenge you to start now, dividing the time that you have left before your birthday by your age (if you turn 24 in 6 months, then list 12 items by then and start fresh on the birthday). 
• If you made New Years resolutions, set an accountability check on your phone calendar, computer, or personal planner for every 2 months. 
• Find out who else is seeking the changes you wish to be a part of, and use our ability to connect to create a tribe of passionate people. (see Seth Godin)
• Award yourself for your hard work and ability to stay true, but don’t be counteractive (If your resolution is to avoid fried food, don’t drive to KFC to celebrate your achievements).

Notes from “Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation- A 35 Year Odyssey”