by Sharon Fleshman
According to a 2012 study conducted by University of Scranton, only 8% of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions manage to keep them. I haven’t practiced this tradition for quite some time. When I did, I’m fairly certain that I forgot about my resolutions within a few months of January 1st. Perhaps there is a way to reframe this exercise in goal setting so that it is more useful.
Focus on shorter term goals. Instead of focusing on what will happen this time next year, aim for what you want to accomplish in the next three months. This can cut down on overwhelm and allow for tweaking your long term goals as necessary.
Express gratitude for small steps. It is tempting to wait for major milestones to celebrate progress, but practicing gratitude more regularly will stimulate your optimism and help you maintain the momentum you need.
Share your goals with a friend or mentor. Indeed, there is something about telling someone else about your goal, especially if you ask them to check in with you about it later. In my experience, accountability to others has been very effective at nudging me from the path of procrastination.
If you would like assistance with setting goals related to your career planning, be sure to connect with a career advisor at Career Services after a well-deserved Winter Break!
