How to Create Realistic New Year's Resolutions (& Accomplish Big Things in 2023)

The realistic New Year's Resolution: does it even exist?

If you're like me, creating a realistic goal for yourself is tough. Either I'll shoot way too high so it's nearly impossible for me to reach, or I'll set my goals too low, not challenging myself. But where is the happy medium? Where is that perfect sweet spot between challenge and accomplish-ability?

If you're struggling with the same thing, we hope these tips will help. They'll guide you in creating a realistic, challenging, but doable goal for 2023 - so you can accomplish some awesome things this year. Let's dive in:

What Goals Have You Failed in the Past?

They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result. But it's easy to slip into that pattern when creating New Year's Resolutions.

A good place to start when building a goal is to look at the graveyard of failed ones in the past. Not to discourage you, but to guide you into designing a more realistic goal this year.

What are your biggest weakest points? Discern between weak spots you need to challenge and weak spots you need to avoid. If you failed a goal because it was unrealistic, avoid that goal in the future. But if you failed a goal because you just didn't push yourself, it might be worth trying again. This decision is up to you.

It's helpful looking at past mistakes to make sure your goal this year is as doable as possible. If you've tried to lose 50 pounds every year and failed each time, it might be time to reduce that number to a more realistic amount, like 25. Start at a challenging but doable level, and move up if you think you can.

How Many Goals is Too Many?

A great way to accomplish nothing in 2023 is to set a dozen goals all at once.

Productivity comes through focus, and if you have too many goals pulling you in different directions, you won't be able to focus on any one of them. Thus, every one of your goals will suffer negligence.

It might be tough, but try thinking of your single biggest goal for 2023. This goal will be your priority #1 goal-wise. If you have any conflict, you know you can't compromise on this one goal.

Then, if you have other goals you want to accomplish, try keeping the list to 4 or 5. Rank them from greatest importance to least. When they clash (because they inevitably will) you will know which goal to compromise on and which one to be stubborn with.

A single goal achieved is better than 5 half-way finished.

Weight the Pros & Cons

Before you decide on a New Year's Resolution, weigh its pros and cons like its a serious decision. This goal will affect the next 365 days of your life. It's a big deal, and it shouldn't be taken lightly.

Your goal will likely require some sacrifice. List those in the cons and contemplate if you are prepared to make those sacrifices. Are the pros worth it? Do you care enough about them to push through the cons?

Make sure you understand every positive and negative to your goal. When the cons arise throughout the year, you'll be prepared because you thought about them beforehand.

Are You Setting Goals for the Right Reasons?

This is the most important question when designing a goal for yourself: are you doing this for the right reasons?

Every goal constructed out of vanity, pride, or guilt will inevitably fail. Those motivations, while powerful in the short-term, can't power you through the challenges you're going to face.

For instance, if you want to lose weight in 2023, ask yourself if you're being motivated because you don't like your body or because you want to nourish and take care of your body better.

The first motivation is guilt-based, and can't be fixed through working out. If you don't like your body now, you won't like it later either. But the second motivation comes from a thankfulness for the body you already have, and a desire to take care of it. Goals built on thankfulness, duty, diligence, and responsibility go much farther.

Can You Fit This Goal Into Your Daily Schedule?

The only way to accomplish a long-term goal is by being consistent. Of course, your goal might be accomplished on a daily basis, a weekly basis, or a monthly basis. But you have to ask yourself: will I fit this into my schedule consistently?

The funny thing is, it's usually not a question of "can I fit this into my schedule?" It always comes down to "will I..." 

There are 24 hours in a day, and you have the power to choose how to use them. Where does your goal fit in those hours? Put in on the calendar, mark it in your planner, and follow through.

Are You Willing to Push Through Even When You Don't Feel Like It?

You've heard this question a million times, but before every goal you set for yourself, you should take it seriously.

There will be times this year when your goal feels like the last thing you want to do. You'll be exhausted, annoyed, fed-up, you name it - you're not going to feel like doing your goal that day.

So in those moments, will you do your goal anyway?

Of course there is grace. There are going to be off days, sick days, rest days. But this question asks, on the days you can accomplish your goal but don't want to, will you?

Will Someone Keep You Accountable?

We left this one for the end, but it is hugely important. Any goal that challenges you will tempt you to avoid it some days. That's why having someone to keep you accountable is so important.

Tell your spouse, friend, or family member about your goal and ask them to check in with you each week about it - maybe each day. Knowing a loved one will hear about it if you gave up one day is powerful motivation, and it will keep you on track for the rest of the year.

Hopefully these tips helped you construct a productive, doable, and challenging New Year's Resolution for your 2023! Here at Redwood Tall Outfitters, we believe in you 😎 You got this! Happy 2023 💪

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