We are on the final stretch of 2019, the “New Year New Me” season is in fifth gear – and I am here for it. This is the time of year so many of us make resolutions to change a certain area, or multiple areas in our lives. We may want to work out more, save more, eat better, start a hobby etc.

There are some who will argue that when we use the phrase “New Year New Me”  we are inferring a complete overhaul; or we are implying that who we are is not good enough for the world, so we need to become a new person. Don’t be distracted by that noise 😏. “New Year New Me” does not mean that we let go of who we are completely. Instead, it means that we are willing to let go of habits or behaviors that do not nurture our growths or the results we are looking for in our lives (or the opposite). It means we are committing to transformation.

But change is never easy. The thought of cutting out old behaviors, people, and possessions can be enough to make us feel uncertain.  However, with this apprehensiveness is also the feeling of elation, inspiration and hope the new year offers. The new year offers a hopeful euphoria - that we will change, and our lives will improve in the year ahead.

If you are thinking of making a change in your personal or professional life in 2020 and you’re looking for motivation or accountability, I’ve got your back. Life should be a continuous cycle of improvement so here is my guide to resolution goal setting (in PDCA form):

PLAN – identify your what and why? What do you want to do? Why are you doing it?

If you are going to make a New Year's Resolution, make it something that you really want to do and not something that you think that you need to do.

Be wise and honest with yourself about your resolutions. Your resolutions should not be emotional but should be based on facts and common sense; and they should also be achievable. Emotional resolutions tend to be impractical. For example, instead of resolving to never eat your favorite meal again set a goal that involves reducing your consumption of it.

DO – identify how you are going to get to your desired goal and go for it.

Waiting for the right time? The right time is now! To carry out resolutions you need to act, not tomorrow or next week, but right now. If you don’t act, nothing will change in your life.

Keep this is mind until you achieve your goal. If you are not doing – you are not on track.

CHECK – review your results/progress.

Consistently study your result/progress toward your goal, measure the effectiveness of your action steps, and decide whether these actions are supporting the achievement of your goals. Adjust as appropriate.

Also, keep track of your successes, big and small. Short-term goals are easier to keep, and each small accomplishment will help keep you motivated. For example, instead of focusing on losing 20 pounds, focus on losing the first five. Celebrate the hell out of each accomplishment.

ACT – ongoing monitoring of your goals and adjustments of action steps.

Are you hitting your targets? Are you seeing positive results? Are you target? Press forward.

Can your results be better? Should you be further along? If you are not seeing the results you are looking for or you find yourself running out of steam, this is where you adjust. It is okay to fail or stall, don’t despair. Recommit yourself and press forward.

The fact that you are evaluating your life and identifying opportunities for improvement is celebration worthy, so I applaud you for that. However, fact is, more than half of new years resolutions fail. According to the time management firm Franklin Covey, one third of resolutions don’t even make it through to the end of January. The good news is, this doesn’t have to be your story. So here’s to 2020 🥂 and here’s to identifying the right resolution(s) to improving your life, creating a plan on how to reach it, and becoming part of the community of people that successfully achieves their goal. Happy New You 🎉!!!

I think, therefore; I am … ushering in a new me.