Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions

I spent a lot of time last week thinking about this new year and what I wanted to accomplish personally and professionally. Did you?

We are just a few days into 2018, how are your New Year’s resolutions? If you’ve already broken them, don’t worry.

Everyone says resolutions are so important and the new year is a chance to finally get healthy, finally take that big business leap, and finally make some new goals for yourself or your business. The definition of a resolution is so finite: “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” As soon as you break it you feel miserable and that you failed yourself in some way.  Well, if you have already made a resolution, throw it out, and if you haven’t yet, there are so many more effective ways to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new year.

 

3 Reasons to Ditch the Resolutions

Skip the resolution altogether and instead try these new ideas for starting off the new year right:

 

1. Reflect on what went well in 2017, and do more of that. Resolutions always seem to focus on the negative. What aren’t you doing? What could you be doing better? Instead, look back on 2017 and think about everything that went well. Was your customer acquisition up? Did you come up with a great marketing campaign? Are your employees happy and motivated members of your team?  Write down everything that went well and think about ways to continue to implement everything that is going great for your business.  Even if you have things you might want to improve, this exercise is to focus on the positive, so keep those negative thoughts at bay.  There will be another time and place for thinking of ways to improve your business. Use this time to reflect on everything that went well. When you begin making a list, you are sure to see so much that went great this past year that you can continue to implement in the new year.

 

2. Make collaborative goals with your business partners or employees. Being a successful business owner is rarely a solitary job. When thinking about your goals for your business, talk with your business partners and the people who work for you. See what you can come up with together.  Involving your employees in the goal making process is also a great way to engage them and show them that they have a stake in your business as well. You want your employees to deliver the best possible experience to your clients. So make sure that they are also happy and on the same page as you when it comes to your goals, values, and the mission of your company.

 

3. Do more of what you love. This isn’t a resolution to make, this is simply a reminder to make sure you are doing something for you.  Sometimes our businesses take the forefront in our lives. We let it rule everything we do and every decision we make. Make time for you this year; whether it is reading, biking, cooking, or painting. Whatever it is, as a business owner having balance in your life will make you a better boss and entrepreneur.

 

Another reason to forego the resolution: If something is important enough, why wait until the new year to do it?

Don’t stress over your resolution. Instead look ahead to 2018 with positivity, renewed energy, and a passion for your business.  By reflecting on what went well in 2017 and keeping notes of everything positive that happens in 2018, involving your team in decision making, and making time for yourself a priority, you will have your best year yet, sans any resolutions.